People's Liberation Army

The **People's Liberation Army** (or simply **PLA**) is the armed forces of the Communist Party of China. The army was established (founded) on 1 August 1927. The People's Liberation Army is the largest military force in the world. It has about 2,250,000 personnel or employees (about 0.18% of the population of China) under the Central Military Commission.

## Branches

The PLA consists of five main branches: the PLA Ground Force, PLA Navy (PLAN), PLA Air Force (PLAAF), Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force), and the PLA Reserve Force. In December 2019, an advanced warship (aircraft carrier (辽宁舰)) came into operation.

## Activities

- In October 1949, the PLA wanted to take Kinmen but failed. The Battle took place at Guningtou (古寧頭之役).

- June 1950 Korean War (engaged by the People's Volunteer Army.)

- In July 1953, the PLA engaged the Taiwanese and won the battle (东山岛战役). The Republic of China Army failed to take Dongshan Island, Fujian.

- 1955 Vietnam War - "Anti-US invasion into Vietnam, meeting in June 1966" (反对美国侵略越南大会)

- 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis (金门炮战)

- In early 1961, the anti-CCP militants had to move from Burma to Taiwan, after engaging the PLA and Burmese Armed Forces (中缅边境勘界警卫作战 and 江拉基地保卫战).

- 1962 Sino-Indian War

- 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War

- 1987 Sino-Indian skirmish

- 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis (台灣海峽飛彈危機)

- Somali Civil War (2009–present) (not engaged) (escort missions)

- Yemen Civil War (not engaged) (rescue missions in 2015 only)

- 2020 China–India skirmishes

## Military exercise

In the sea, since 2012, in cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

From 2017 to 2022, the PLA sent many fighter aircrafts to fly near Taiwan.

This was not welcomed by the Taiwanese, who describe these exercises as "CCP planes harass Taiwan"  (共機擾台).

In early 2025, a large number of warships were present in the international waters near Australia.

## Infobox (national military)

- **country**: China
- **name**: People's Liberation Army
- **native name**:     
- **image**:
- **caption**: Emblem of the People's Liberation Army
- **founded**: 1 August 1927
- **branches**:  People's Liberation Army Ground Force, PLA Ground Force

People's Liberation Army Navy, PLA Navy

People's Liberation Army Air Force, PLA Air Force

Second Artillery Corps (China), Second Artillery Corps
- **commander-in-chief**: Xi Jinping (Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Chairman)
Zhang Youxia (Vice-chairman)
He Weidong (Vice-chairman)
Xu Qiliang (Vice-chairman)
- **commander-in-chief title**: Leaders of Central Military Commission (China), Central Military Commission
- **minister**: General Li Shangfu
- **minister title**: Minister of Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, National Defense
- **commander**: General Liu Zhenli
- **commander title**: Chief of People's Liberation Army General Staff Department, PLA General Staff
- **age**: 18–49
- **conscription**: None enforced
- **manpower data**: 2010 est
- **manpower age**: 16–49
- **available**: 385,821,101
- **available f**: 363,789,674
- **fit**: 318,265,016
- **fit f**: 300,323,611
- **reaching**: 10,406,544
- **reaching f**: 9,131,990
- **active**: approximately 2,285,000(about 0.18% of population)
- **ranked**: 1st
- **reserve**: 800,000
- **deployed**: **Overseas**: ~300 anti-pirate personnel in Somalia
**Paramilitary**: approximately 1,500,000
**Total**: 4,585,000~  (List of countries by number of troops, ranked 6th)
- **amount**: US$119 billion (2013) (List of countries and federations by military expenditures, ranked 2nd)
- **percent gdp**: 1.46% (2012 est.)
- **imports**:

- **exports**:

- **history**: History of the People's Liberation Army, History of the PLA
Modernization of the People's Liberation Army, Modernization of the PLA
- **ranks**: Ranks of the People's Liberation Army, Army
Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy, Navy
Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, Air Force