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| Chinese forces | |
|---|---|
| Name | People's Liberation Army |
| Native name | 中国人民解放军 |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | Zhongnanhai |
| Commander in chief | Xi Jinping |
| Manpower | Active and reserve personnel |
Chinese forces
Chinese forces encompass the armed services of the People's Republic of China, centered on the People's Liberation Army and associated paramilitary and militia elements. Their development traces from revolutionary origins through civil war, the proclamation of the People's Republic in 1949, reform-era modernization, and rapid 21st-century capability expansion. The forces play central roles in national defense, regional power projection, and participation in international peacekeeping and maritime security operations.
The origins lie in the Nanchang Uprising and the formation of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, later evolving through the Long March, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the Chinese Civil War. After 1949, major episodes included the Korean War, border conflicts such as the Sino-Indian War and the Sino-Soviet border conflict, and the reorientation under leaders like Deng Xiaoping, who initiated the "strategic retreat" and modernization programs. The post-Cold War period saw reforms influenced by lessons from the Gulf War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, followed by accelerated investment under leaderships including Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping.
The overall command structure places the Central Military Commission at the apex, with the chairman serving as commander-in-chief. The armed services are organized into theater commands (formerly military regions) aligned with strategic theaters such as the Eastern Theater Command and Southern Theater Command. Administrative and political control involves the Ministry of National Defense and the People's Liberation Army General Political Department (reorganized into the Political Work Department). Force generation and training occur through institutions like the National University of Defense Technology and the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.
Branches include the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Navy, People's Liberation Army Air Force, People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, and People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force, supplemented by the People's Armed Police and militia formations. Capabilities span combined-arms formations, amphibious assault units, carrier strike groups, strategic nuclear and conventional missile forces, cyber and space operations, and electronic warfare. Specialized units include marine brigades, airborne forces, and PLA Special Operations Forces drawn from service branches.
Equipment modernization accelerated with indigenous programs producing platforms such as the Type 99 tank, J-20 stealth fighter, Type 055 destroyer, and Shandong and Liaoning aircraft carriers. Missile developments include the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile and the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile, while space-related assets involve Tiangong space station modules and reconnaissance satellites. Procurement and domestic defense industries involve state-owned enterprises like China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and Aviation Industry Corporation of China, alongside initiatives influenced by policies such as the Made in China 2025 plan.
Doctrinal evolution reflects shifts from mass-mobilization concepts toward precision, informatization, and joint operations doctrines articulated by the Academy of Military Sciences and senior leadership. Strategic priorities emphasize anti-access/area denial concepts, combined arms maneuver, strategic deterrence, and protection of maritime interests in areas including the South China Sea and around Taiwan. Political control and civil-military integration are guided by doctrines promoted at PLA academies and by central leadership, integrating technologies including cyber, space, and electronic warfare into joint campaigns.
Operations have ranged from the large-scale intervention in the Korean War to border engagements with India and the Soviet Union, to recent deployments for United Nations peacekeeping missions, counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, and evacuations such as those from Yemen and Libya. Naval patrols and island-building security operations have been prominent around features like Scarborough Shoal and the Paracel Islands, while joint exercises have increased with countries including Russia, Pakistan, and Belarus.
Defense policy emphasizes deterrence, regional influence, and safeguarding overseas interests, interacting with actors such as the United States Department of Defense, NATO, and regional organizations like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Arms exports and military cooperation engage partners including Pakistan, Angola, and Saudi Arabia, while tensions with neighbors have driven dialogues and confidence-building measures mediated by institutions such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. High-level dialogues and incidents influence bilateral military-to-military relations with states including Japan, India, Vietnam, and Australia.