Xiao (Wade-Giles: Hsiao) is the rank held by field officer

Field officer

A field officer is an army, marine, or air force commissioned officer senior in rank to a company officer but junior to a general officer; in some navies, it is an officer who is a Lieutenant Commander, Commander, or Captain....

s in the military of both the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

 and the Republic of China

Republic of China

The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

. The People's Liberation Army

People's Liberation Army

The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...

 uses four grades while the Republic of China uses only three, with the rank equivalent to the fourth being treated as a general officer rank. This difference is found in other militaries as well. For example. in the British Army a brigadier is considered a field officer, while the equivalent rank in the United States Army, brigadier general, is considered a general officer. The PLA use the same rank names for all services, prefixed by Hai Jun (海军) (Naval Force) or Kong Jun (空军) (Air Force). While the ROC does the same for enlisted ranks and company-grade officer

Company-grade officer

In US military usage, a company-grade officer is a Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, or Captain.In the Army, company-grade officers are typically assigned to a company as a platoon leader or executive officer or as a commander . They may also be assigned as staff officers. They may preside...

s, it has distinct names for the higher naval ranks.

Rank	Literal translation	Army translation	Navy translation	PLA Naval Force insignia	PLA Air Force insignia	ROC Army insignia	NATO rank equivalent
Da Xiao (大校)	Grand Field Officer	Brigadier	Commodore			N/A	OF-6
Shang Xiao (上校) (Shang Hsiao)	Senior Field Officer	Colonel	Captain				OF-5
Zhong Xiao (中校) (Chung Hsiao)	Middle Field Officer	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander				OF-4
Shao Xiao (少校) (Shao Hsiao)	Junior Field Officer	Major	Lieutenant Commander				OF-3

See also

• Ranks of the People's Liberation Army
  Ranks of the People's Liberation Army
  The People's Liberation Army has not always used ranks or insignia. In common with the practice of the Red Army at the time of its founding in 1927, neither were used until 1955 when a system of ranks was established. As a result of the Cultural Revolution, ranks were abolished in May 1965...
  
  
• Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy
  Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy
  The ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy are similar to those of the Chinese Army, formally known as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Navy are prefixed by 海军 meaning Naval Force or Navy. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article...
  
  
• Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
  Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
  The ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force are similar to those of the Chinese Army, formally known as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Air Force are prefixed by 空军 meaning Air Force. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article...
  
  
• Republic of China Armed Forces rank insignia