page_title: People's Liberation Army Ground Force
section_title: Relationship with other Organizations
hierarchical_section_title: People's Liberation Army Ground Force / Relationship with other Organizations
caption_attribution_description: Squad of the People's Armed Police in the courtyard of the Forbidden City outside the Meridian Gate in Beijing, PRC.
context_page_description: The People's Liberation Army Ground Force is the land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army and it is the largest and oldest branch of the entire Chinese armed forces. The PLAGF can trace its lineage from 1927; however, it was not officially established until 1948.
context_section_description: The People's Liberation Army Ground Force maintains close relationships with several paramilitary organizations within China, primarily the People's Armed Police (PAP) and the Militia (also known as the China Militia). Both of these paramilitary organisations act as a reserve force for the PLAGF during a time of national emergency such as war or natural disaster. The PAP consists of approximately 1.5 million personnel. Their primary mission during peacetime is internal security and counter-terrorism. The Militia is a mass force engaged in daily production under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and 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 Militia numbers some 3 million service men and women.
caption: Troops of the People's Armed Police
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