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People's Liberation Army
中华人民共和国解放军
 Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Jiěfàngjūn
Flag of the People's Liberation ArmyFlag China Emblem PLAEmblem
Motto "Serve the People"
Founded 1 August 1927 (Nanchang uprising)
Headquaters National Defense Ministry Headquarters, Bohai City
Service Branches
  • PLA Ground Force
  • PLA Navy
  • PLA Air Force
  • PLA Rocket Force
  • PLA Strategic Support Force
  • People's Armed Police Force
Leadership
Chairman of the CMC Wu Yazhu
1st-ranked Vice-Chairman of the CMC Air Force General Guo Zhenya
2nd-ranked Vice-Chairman of the CMC Admiral Zhao Qigang
Minister of National Defense General Hao Liuxian
Chief of the Joint Staff Department General Thurein Htut Hein
Manpower
Military Age 20+
Active Personnel 3,295,000 Regular, 1,500,00 Paramilitary
Reserve Personnel 8,102,000
Total Manpower ~800,000,000
Women Full combat role
Conscription Only during wartime or martial law
Expenditures
Budget $1.7 trillion
As Percentage of GDP 1.9%

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the armed forces of the People's Republic of China, Myanmar, Bhutan and Mongolia as well as the Communist Party of China (CPC). The PLA consists of five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force.

The PLA is the world's largest military force, with a strength of approximately 3,295,000 personnel, 0.22% of the country's population. It is the one of the most modernised military powers in the world, with significant defence and power projection capabilities. It boasts the largest defence budget in the world, and many western authorities – including SIPRI and the U.S. Department of Defence – claim it may be even higher then reported.

The PLA is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the CPC. It is legally obliged to follow the principle of civilian control of the military, although in practical terms this principle has been implemented in such a way as to ensure the PLA is under the absolute control of the Communist Party of China. Its commander in chief is the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (usually the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China). The Ministry of National Defence, which operates under the State Council, does not exercise any authority over the PLA and is far less powerful than the CMC.

A system of political officers embedded within the military ensures party authority over the armed forces so that the primary role of the Ministry of Defence is that of a liaison office with foreign militarises rather than a commanding authority. The political and military leadership have made a concerted effort to create a professional military force, the duties of which are restricted to national defence and to the provision of assistance in domestic economic construction and emergency relief. This conception of the role of the PLA requires the promotion of specialised officers who can understand modern weaponry and handle combined arms operations. Units around the country are assigned to one of five theatres commands by geographical location.

Service Branches[]

The PLA encompasses six main service branches: the Ground Force, the Navy, the Air Force, the Rocket Force, the Strategic Support Force and the Military Police force. Following the 500,000 troop reduction announced in 2037 after the end of the Himalayan War, the total strength of the PLA (excluding police) has been reduced to just over 3.25 million. Further reforms will see an additional 200,000 personnel reduction. The reductions will come mainly from ground forces, which will allow more funds to be diverted to naval, air, and strategic missile forces. This demonstrates China's shift from ground force prioritisation to emphasising air and naval power with high-tech equipment for offensive roles.

Ground Force[]

ZTZ-135 Chinese tank

A ZTZ-135 tank, the main battle tank of the PLAGF from 2038. However older tanks such as the ZTZ-111 and ZTZ-121 are still in common use, especially by non-deployed units, due to funding restrictions.

The PLA has the world's largest ground force, currently totalling some 1.8 million personnel, or about 58% of the PLA's total manpower. The ground forces are divided among the five theatre commands as named above.

In times of crisis, the PLA Ground Force will be reinforced by numerous reserve and paramilitary units. The PLAGF reserve component has about 810,000 personnel divided into 45 infantry and 20 anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) divisions.

A further three amphibious mechanised divisions were also established in Nanjing and Taiwan during the Sino-Indian Proxy War, increasing the number of such division to 9. All of the active divisions and brigades of the PLA are mechanised or armoured.

Navy[]

Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then it has undergone rapid modernisation. The 515,000 strong People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is organised into five major fleets: the North Sea Fleet headquartered at Qingdao, the North East Sea Fleet headquartered at Ningbo, the East Sea Fleet headquartered at Kaohsiung, the South East Sea Fleet headquartered in Zhanjiang and the South Sea Fleet headquartered at Tây Ninh.

Each fleet consists of an aircraft carrier, between 30 and 47 surface ships, between 7 and 14 nuclear submarines, a naval air force, a number of coastal defence vessels, several marine units and 10 to 20 auxiliary vessels.

Chinese Supercarrier

The Tianjin with 2 escort ships (2036)

The main Eastern Sea Fleet contains China's only super-carrier, the Tianjin.

The navy includes a 25,000 strong Marine Corps (organised into five brigades), a 46,000 strong Naval Air Force operating over two thousand helicopters, drones and fixed-wing aircraft, plus a 25,000 strong Coastal Defence Force.

Air Force[]

The 620,000 strong People's Liberation Army Air Force is organised into five Theater Command Air Forces (TCAF) and 42 air divisions. The largest operational units within the Aviation Corps is the air division, which has 2 to 3 aviation regiments, each with 20 to 36 aircraft. The surface-to-air missile (SAM) Corps is organised into SAM divisions and brigades. There are also four airborne divisions manned by the PLAAF.

Special Forces[]

Chinese Special Forces Qatif

PLSF Operative stands guard in Qatif (2038)

China's special ground force is called PLASF (People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces). It includes highly trained soldiers, a team of commander, assistant commander, sniper, spotter, machine-gun supporter, bomber, and a pair of assault group. China's counterterrorist unit is drawn from the police force rather than the military.

China has developed a force capable of carrying out long-range air-borne operations, long-range reconnaissance, and amphibious operations. Formed in China's Guangzhou military region and known by the nickname "Sword of Southern China", the force supposedly receives army, air force and naval training, including flight training, and is equipped with "hundreds of high-tech devices and equipment", including thermal vision goggles and full ballistic under-suits.

All of the force's officers have completed degrees at military staff colleges, and 60 percent are said to have university degrees. Soldiers are reported to be cross-trained in various specialities, and training is supposed to encompass a range of operational environments.

The PLASF have played vital rolls in multiple conflicts including the Taiwan Coup and Arabian War

Rocket Force[]

The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force is the main strategic missile force of the PLA. It controls China's nuclear, conventional strategic and defence missiles. China's total nuclear arsenal size is estimated to be between 500 and 750 thermonuclear warheads and an additional 20 to 50 fusion devices. The PLARF has approximately 300,000 personnel and 12 ballistic missile divisions (missile corps bases). The 12 divisions are independently deployed in different theatre commands and have a total of 15 to 20 missile brigades.

Strategic Support Force[]

Founded on December 31, 2015 as part of the first wave of reforms of the PLA, the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force a combination of all support forces, that includes high-tech operations forces such as space, cyberspace and electronic warfare operations units, independent of other branches of the military.

Given its nature the PLASSF is highly secretive however it is estimated it has around 60,000 personnel. Speculation about the divisions possible breach of the Outer Space Treaty have been popular with many conspiracy theorists and western journalists alike however nothing has of yet been proven.

People's Armed Police Force[]

Chinese Counterterroism

Chinese Counterterroism Forces (2039)

The Chinese People's Armed Police Force (abbreviated: PAP) is a Chinese paramilitary police (Gendarmerie) force primarily responsible for internal security, riot control, counterterroism, law enforcement, and maritime rights protection in China, as well as providing support to the PLA Ground Force during wartime.

Unlike the other branches of the PLA the PAP operates primarily within China, with Myanmar, Bhutan and Mongolia all having their own national military police

Equipment[]

Camouflage[]

Chinese PLA Uniform Expo

PLA uniforms on display at the Minsk Military Expo (2036)

All People’s Liberation Army combat uniforms, vests, land vehicles and some low altitude aircraft use the a pixel Camouflage. For uniforms Type-07 and Type-19 are primarily used with some special forces an police units having distinct camoflage. Firearms are sometimes painted with corresponding camouflage.

Name Sample Use
Woodland (Type-19) Chinese Camo Woodland
  • Military forces in woodland and forested regions
  • Used primarily in Europe and North East Asia
Tropic (Type-19) Chinese Camo Tropic
  • Military forces in lush grassland/tropical regions
  • Used primarily in south east Asia and Central Africa
Desert (Type-19) Chinese Camo Desert
  • Military forces in desert and semiarid conditions.
Arid (Type-19) Chinese Camo Arid2
  • Military forces in arid, desert, mountainous and autumn conditions.
Urban (Type-19) Chinese Camo Urban
  • Military forces in urban enviroments.
Universal (Type-07) Chinese Camo Universal
  • Reserve forces and Militia
  • Used if new camouflage is not available
Arid (Type-07) Chinese Camo Arid
  • Reserve forces and Militia
  • Used if new camouflage is not available
Snow (Type-07) Chinese Camo Snow
  • Military forces in snow conditions
Navy (Type-07) Chinese Camo Navy
  • Ship personal
Airforce (Type-07) Chinese Camo Airforce
  • Ground crewmen and officers
  • Some Paratroopers
Woodland (Police) Chinese Camo Peoples Armed Police
  • People's Armed Police
Arid (Police) Chinese Camo Peoples Armed Police Arid
  • People's Armed Police

Infantry Equipment[]

Small Arms:

Name Type Ammunition Image Origin Use
QSZ-29 Semi-Automatic Pistol 9x21mm,

20/30 rounds

QSZ29 gun Flag of the People's Republic of China China Standard Issue
QBZ-95
  • Assault rifle
  • Carbine
5.8×42mm,

30 round clip or 80 round drum

QBZ32 gun Flag of the People's Republic of China China Reserve
QBZ-191
  • Assault rifle
  • Battle rifle
  • Carbine
  • Marksman rifle
5.8×42mm,

30 rounds clip

QBZ191 gun Flag of the People's Republic of China China Standard Issue
QBZ-132
  • Assault rifle
  • Battle rifle
  • Carbine
  • Marksman rifle
5.8×42mm,

30 rounds clip

File:QBZ132 gun.png Flag of the People's Republic of China China Standard Issue
QBB-128 Light Support Weapon 5.8×42mm,

1 or 2 75 round drums

QBB32 gun Flag of the People's Republic of China China Standard Issue
QBU-128 Marksman rifle 6.5×39 mm,

20 rounds

QBU28 gun Flag of the People's Republic of China China Standard Issue
Type-130 Assault rifle

Anti-Material rifle

6.5×39 mm, 30 rounds

.50 BW, 10 rounds

Type134 gun Flag of the People's Republic of China China Special Forces
Type-140 Prototype Rifle Unknown Type-140 Flag of the People's Republic of China China Is prototype, most likely special forces only.

Note: Reserve forces are trainees will occasionally be equipped with the previous generation of weapons.

Land Vehicles[]

Tanks:

Name Type Quantity Image Origin Notes
Object-140 Main Battle Tank

Prototype

2 Flag of the People's Republic of China China A prototype using the base of a ZTZ-135 with a Railgun turret.
ZTZ-135 Main Battle Tank

4th Generation Advanced

1,500 ZTZ135 tank Flag of the People's Republic of China China MBT of the PLA

Is the first electric tank in in active service.

ZTZ-124 Main Battle Tank

4th Generation

5,820 ZTZ124 tank Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ZTZ-121 (ZTZ-99B) Main Battle Tank

3rd Generation Advanced

5,120 ZTZ119 tank Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ZTZ-111 (ZTZ-99A) Main Battle Tank

3rd Generation

6,600 ZTZ111 tank Flag of the People's Republic of China China Mostly in Reserve, awaiting conversion 20 ZTZ-121
ZTQ-35 Light Tank

4th Generation

1,000 ZTQ31 tank Flag of the People's Republic of China China Main light tank of the PLA
ZTQ-25 (ZTQ-15A) Light Tank

3rd Generation advanced

3,250 ZTQ15A tank Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ZTQ-15 Light Tank

3rd Generation

1,600 ZTQ15 tank Flag of the People's Republic of China China In reserve - awaiting conversion to ZTQ-15A

Other Armored:

Name Type Quantity Image Origin Notes
ZBL-32 Infantry Fighting Vehicle 6,620 ZBL32 IFV Flag of the People's Republic of China China All variants are amphibious
ATMG Carrier
Assault Gun
Self propelled anti-air
ZBL-21 (ZBL-08A) Infantry Fighting Vehicle 12,900 ZBL21 IFV Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ATMG Carrier
Assault Gun
Self propelled anti-air
ZBD-30 (ZBD-05B) Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle 3,750 ZBD30 IFV Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ATMG Carrier
ZBD-18 (ZBD-05A) Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle 4,800 ZBD18 IFV Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ATMG Carrier
ZBD-29 Tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle 3,200 ZBD29 IFV Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ZBD-24 (ZBD-04C) Tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle 10,200 ZBD24 IFV Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ZSD-31 8x8 Armoured Personel Carrier 20,700 ZSD31 APC Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ZFB-30 4x4 Armoured Personel Carrier 3,000 ZFB30 APC Flag of the People's Republic of China China Mostly in use by the Military Police
ZFB-20 (ZFB-05A) 4x4 Armoured Personel Carrier 5,500 ZFB20 APC Flag of the People's Republic of China China Mostly in use by the Military Police
ZSL-24 (ZSL-92A) 6x6 Armoured Personel Carrier 8,000 ZSD25 APC Flag of the People's Republic of China China
ZSL-92 6x6 Armoured Personel Carrier 14,500 ZSL92 APC Flag of the People's Republic of China China Mostly in reserve due to high conversion costs
CSK-131 4x4 Lightweight Tactical Vehicle 86,000 CSK131 MRAP Flag of the People's Republic of China China
CSK-141 4x4 Lightweight Tactical Vehicle 42,000 CSK141 MRAP Flag of the People's Republic of China China
CSK-181 6x6 Lightweight Tactical Veichle 45,000 CSK181 MRAP Flag of the People's Republic of China China

Unarmored:

Aircraft[]

Fixed wing:

Helicopters:

Naval Vessels[]

Submarines:

Destroyers:

Corvettes:

Cruisers:

Battleships:

Aircraft Carriers: