China (PRC): Section 3 - Force Structures

摘要

China's total armed forces number some 2 million, with another 500,000-plus in reserves. Terms of service are selective conscription, with all conscripts serving two years regardless of service branch. China is in the process of downsizing its armed forces. The Chinese People's Liberation Forces have already demobilized 1 million men since 1985. A further reduction of 500,000 troops to about 1.85 million was announced in spring 2003 but never implemented. Instead, on September 3, 2015, President Xi Jinping announced a force reduction of 300,000 mostly non-combat personnel to be undertaken by 2017. Also announced was the consolidation the PLA's seven military regions into five "Theater Commands" (or Battle Zones): Northern, Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western.