Military of China
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| Military of China | |
|---|---|
 Original uploader was Nicolau at zh.wikipedia · Public domain · source | |
| Name | People's Liberation Army |
| Native name | 中国人民解放军 |
| Caption | Emblem of the People's Liberation Army |
| Founded | 1 August 1927 |
| Current form | 1 October 1949 |
| Branches | People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Navy, People's Liberation Army Air Force, People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force |
| Headquarters | Ministry of National Defense, Beijing |
| Commander-in-chief | Xi Jinping (Chairman of the Central Military Commission) |
| Minister | Dong Jun |
| Chief of staff | Liu Zhenli |
| Age | 18 |
| Conscription | Selective, 24-month service |
| Manpower | 2,035,000 active (2023 est.) |
| Budget | $292 billion (2024 est.) |
| Percent GDP | 1.6% (2024 est.) |
| Domestic suppliers | Aviation Industry Corporation of China, China North Industries Group Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
| Foreign suppliers | Russia, Ukraine (historically) |
| Related articles | Military history of China |
Military of China. The principal military force of the People's Republic of China is the People's Liberation Army, a unified armed service established during the Chinese Civil War and formally organized upon the founding of the republic in 1949. Commanded by the Central Military Commission under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, it is the world's largest active-duty military and a central pillar of national power. Its modern development is guided by doctrines emphasizing informationization and the capability to fight and win "local wars under informatized conditions," with a growing focus on blue-water and expeditionary warfare capabilities.
History of the Military of China
The modern military traces its origins to the Nanchang Uprising of 1927, which established the Red Army under Zhu De and Mao Zedong during the Chinese Communist Revolution. Key formative campaigns included the Long March, the Second Sino-Japanese War as part of the Second United Front, and the ultimate victory in the Chinese Civil War against the National Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang. Following the proclamation of the People's Republic, it engaged in the Korean War, confronting United Nations Command forces, and later border conflicts such as the Sino-Indian War and the Sino-Soviet border conflict. The late 20th century saw a shift from a mass-mobilization force toward professionalization and technological modernization, particularly after the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis and the Gulf War, which highlighted technological disparities.
Organization and Structure
The military is organized under the absolute leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, exercised through the Central Military Commission chaired by the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. The operational and administrative chain runs through the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, with the Ministry of National Defense serving primarily in a liaison role. The five theater commands—Eastern Theater Command, Southern Theater Command, Western Theater Command, Northern Theater Command, and Central Theater Command—are responsible for integrated joint operations within defined strategic directions. Key supporting organs include the Political Work Department and the Logistics Support Department.
Branches of the Military
The principal service branches are the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, the world's largest army, which includes group armies and specialized units like the PLA Army Aviation. The People's Liberation Army Navy operates a rapidly expanding fleet including aircraft carriers like the Shandong and Type 055 destroyers, with major bases at Yalong Naval Base and Guangzhou. The People's Liberation Army Air Force fields advanced aircraft such as the Chengdu J-20 and operates integrated air defense systems, while the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force controls the land-based nuclear and conventional missile arsenal, including the DF-41 and DF-26. The People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force consolidates space, cyber, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Equipment and Technology
Domestic defense conglomerates like Aviation Industry Corporation of China, China North Industries Group Corporation, and China South Industries Group Corporation drive indigenous production, reducing historical reliance on suppliers like Sukhoi and Rosoboronexport. Key platforms include the Shenyang J-16 fighter, the Type 99 main battle tank, the Type 052D destroyer, and the DF-17 hypersonic glide vehicle. Significant investment in anti-satellite weapons, quantum communication, and artificial intelligence aims to achieve "intelligentized" warfare. The Xian H-20 stealth bomber and Fujian aircraft carrier represent next-generation projects, supported by a vast network of research institutes like the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
Military Operations and Strategies
Doctrinally, the military emphasizes "active defense" and preparing for "regional military conflicts," particularly concerning Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea. Key strategic concepts include Anti-Access/Area Denial to counter foreign power projection and Information Dominance. Major exercises, such as those around the Taiwan Strait and in the Tibet Autonomous Region, demonstrate rapid mobilization and joint operational capabilities. The establishment of the PLA Base in Djibouti and frequent naval task force deployments, like those to the Gulf of Aden, underscore growing expeditionary and far-sea operations. Cyber and space operations are integrated under the Strategic Support Force.
International Relations and Cooperation
The military engages in bilateral and multilateral engagements, including joint exercises with partners like Russia (e.g., Vostok), Pakistan (e.g., Shaheen), and members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It is a major contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions, with deployments in regions such as South Sudan and Lebanon. Military diplomacy includes port calls by People's Liberation Army Navy vessels, high-level exchanges with countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, and participation in forums like the Xiangshan Forum. Arms exports, managed by companies like Poly Technologies, supply equipment to nations including Algeria, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, while strategic competition with the United States and tensions over the First Island Chain define key security dynamics.