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Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Military of the People's Republic of China has grown to include the active and reserve forces of the People's Liberation Army, the People's Liberation Army Navy, the People's Armed Police and the Militia ^[1]. In terms of sheer number of troops, the 2.3-million-strong Chinese armed forces is currently the largest military in the world ^[2].

The Type 96G tanks are one latest variant of China's 2nd generation main battle tanks. China is rapidly modernizing its military.

Designed to be equally useful in both the fighter and light bomber roles, the J-10 fighter aircraft is optimized for all-weather day-and-night missions.

PLA's Special Operation Forces

China's armed forces are under de facto the leadership of the Communist Party of China (flag pictured)

Main article: People's Liberation Army

The PLA consists of officers and men in active service and in reserve. The active forces are made up of the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Second Artillery Corps, military schools and scientific research institutions.

The reserve service of the PLA was organized in 1983 with officers and men in the active service as the backbone and those in the reserve service as the basic elements.

Main article: People's Armed Police

The People's Armed Police Force (PAP) is a paramilitary police force primarily responsible for law enforcement within the PRC.

In contrast to public security officers, PAP guards wear olive green instead of the dark gray or blue uniforms of the People's Police. An individual policeman in the PAP was called an "armed policeman" (武警) until January 1, 2005. Now, the position has been renamed "internal guard" (內卫); New arm patches reflect this change.

PRC's Militia, a mass force engaged in daily production under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CCP), also forms part of the Chinese armed forces. Under the command of the military organs, it undertakes such jobs as war preparation services, security and defense operation tasks and assistance in maintaining social order and public security.

The PRC has recently started to modernise its armed forces, favouring a more western army that is more advanced but less numerous.

1. ^ The Components of the Armed Forces, PRC official website
2. ^ Chinese Army Modernization: An Overview, by Lieutenant Colonel Dennis J. Blasko

• PLA National Defense University
• Supreme Military Command of PRC
• Military budget of the People's Republic of China
• Military history of China
• Military of the Republic of China

• China's National Defense in 2006, PRC's whitepaper

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