People's Liberation Army

People's Liberation Army
Original uploader was Nicolau at zh.wikipedia · Public domain · source
Unit name	People's Liberation Army
Caption	Flag of the People's Liberation Army
Founded	1 August 1927
Current form	1 October 1949
Headquarters	Ministry of National Defense, Beijing
Commander-in-chief	Xi Jinping
Commander-in-chief title	Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Minister	Dong Jun
Minister title	Minister of National Defense
Chief of staff	Liu Zhenli
Chief of staff title	Chief of the Joint Staff Department

People's Liberation Army. It is the armed forces of the People's Republic of China and the military wing of the Chinese Communist Party, under the absolute leadership of the Central Military Commission. Tracing its origins to the Nanchang Uprising of 1927, it is one of the world's largest military forces, with a mandate encompassing national defense, internal security, and disaster relief. The modern force is undergoing a comprehensive transformation emphasizing joint warfare, technological advancement, and power projection capabilities.

History

The foundational event was the Nanchang Uprising on August 1, 1927, led by communist figures like Zhou Enlai and He Long, which created the Red Army. This force was central to the Chinese Civil War, surviving the Long March and later fighting against Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Following World War II, it resumed the civil war, culminating in the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Key engagements in the early PRC period included the Korean War, where it fought against United Nations Command forces, and border conflicts like the Sino-Indian War and the Sino-Soviet border conflict. Under leaders like Deng Xiaoping, it underwent significant downsizing and professionalization in the 1980s, moving away from a mass Maoist model.

Organization

The ultimate command authority rests with the Central Military Commission, chaired by the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. The operational and administrative structure is divided into five service branches: the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, the People's Liberation Army Navy, the People's Liberation Army Air Force, the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, and the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force. The country is divided into five Theater Commands: Eastern Theater Command, Southern Theater Command, Western Theater Command, Northern Theater Command, and Central Theater Command, each integrating all service branches for joint operations. Other major departments include the Joint Staff Department and the Political Work Department.

Personnel and training

As a volunteer force, it maintains the world's largest active-duty military, with conscription authorized by law but largely unused since the 1980s. Officer education is conducted through a tiered system of academies, with premier institutions like the National University of Defense Technology and the PLA National Defense University. Enlisted and non-commissioned officer training emphasizes political education alongside technical and combat skills, with rigorous exercises such as those held at the Zhurihe Training Base. Personnel serve in diverse roles, from special forces like the PLA Snow Leopard Commando Unit to the cyber specialists of the Strategic Support Force.

Equipment and technology

The force has transitioned from reliance on imported Soviet-era designs to a modern, increasingly indigenous arsenal. The ground forces operate main battle tanks like the Type 99 and the Type 15, while the navy has expanded significantly with aircraft carriers such as the *Shandong* and Type 055 guided-missile destroyers. The air force fields advanced aircraft including the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter and the Xian Y-20 strategic transport. The Rocket Force controls a large and diverse arsenal of ballistic missiles, including the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile and the DF-17 hypersonic glide vehicle. Major defense conglomerates like Aviation Industry Corporation of China and China North Industries Group Corporation drive this modernization.

Role and functions

Its primary role is to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, with a focus on scenarios involving Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea. It conducts frequent major exercises, such as those around the Taiwan Strait, and participates in international activities like United Nations peacekeeping missions and anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden. Domestically, it supports civil authorities in disaster response, as seen during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and assists with internal stability. The ongoing modernization, part of broader Chinese Dream initiatives, aims to build a "world-class" military capable of protecting expanding global interests, exemplified by the establishment of the first overseas support base in Djibouti.

Category:Military of the People's Republic of China Category:Armies by country