Analysis: Cutting the PLA to the corps
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of China’s communist party, is undergoing a series of radical reformations. The slashing of 300,000 personnel by 2017 is just one aspect of this radical makeover.
The latest development revealed in late August is that the PLA will do away with all its group armies (or corps), of which there are currently 18. This will affect some 850,000 troops assigned to mobile combat units. The remainder of the 1.55 million-strong ground force is composed of soldiers serving in regional garrisons.
Modern warfare emphasises mobility, nimbleness and modularity backed by high-tech weapons
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