People's Liberation Army

Components People's Liberation Army People's Liberation Army Ground Force People's Liberation Army Navy People's Liberation Army Air Force Ranks of the Chinese Military Ranks of the People's Liberation Navy Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force Ranks of the People's Liberation Army History of the Chinese Military Military History of China History of the People's Liberation Army

PLA flag

The History of the People's Liberation Army is that of the military of mainland China. The People's Liberation Army, is the military system of the the People's Republic of China. Founded in 1927, this military system includes the People's Liberation Army Navy, the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, and the People's Liberation Army Air Force. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag of the Peoples Liberation Army. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Flag of the Peoples Liberation Army Ground Force The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) deploys over 8,000 tanks, 4,000 armoured vehicles, and 25,000 artillery pieces. ... Image File history File links The naval jack of the Peoples Republic of China. ... PLAN Jack The Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the naval arm of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the military of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Flag of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force The Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) (simplified Chinese: 解放军空军; pinyin: Jiěfàngjūn Kōngjūn) is the aviation branch of the Peoples Liberation Army, the military of the Peoples Republic of China. ... See also Chinese military Ranks of the Peoples Liberation Army Categories: Military ranks by country | Military of the Peoples Republic of China ... The following graph presents the images, names, transliterations and equivalent ranks in the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Air Force. ... The following graph presents the images, names, transliterations and equivalent ranks in the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army. ... The military history of China extends from around 1500 BCE to the present day. ... Image File history File links Flag of the Peoples Liberation Army. ... Image File history File links Flag of the Peoples Liberation Army. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... PLAN Jack The Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the naval arm of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the military of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Flag of the Peoples Liberation Army Ground Force The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) deploys over 8,000 tanks, 4,000 armoured vehicles, and 25,000 artillery pieces. ... Flag of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force The Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) (simplified Chinese: 解放军空军; pinyin: Jiěfàngjūn Kōngjūn) is the aviation branch of the Peoples Liberation Army, the military of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

The People's Liberation Army was founded on August 1, 1927 during the Nanchang Uprising when troops of the Kuomintang rebelled under the leadership of Zhu De and Zhou Enlai after the end of the first Kuomintang-Communist alliance. They were known as the Chinese Red Army. Between 1934 and 1935, the Red Army survived several campaigns lead against it by Chiang Kai-Shek and engaged in the Long March. August 1st is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Nanchang Uprising (南昌起义) (August 1, 1927) was the first major Kuomintang-Communist engagement of the Chinese Civil War. ... The Kuomintang (KMT) or Nationalist Party of China (Traditional: 中國國民黨; Simplified: 中国国民党; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo Kuo-min-tang; Tongyong Pinyin: Jhongguo Guomindang) is a conservative political party currently active in the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. ... Zhu De Zhū Dé (朱德, Wade-Giles: Chu Teh, zi: Yùjiē 玉阶) (December 1, 1886 - July 6, 1976) was a Chinese Communist military leader and statesman. ... Zhou Enlai (Simplified Chinese: 周恩来; Traditional Chinese: 周恩來; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chou En-lai) (March 5, 1898 – January 8, 1976), a prominent Chinese Communist leader, was Premier of the Peoples Republic of China from 1949 until his death. ... The Chinese Civil War was a conflict in China between the Kuomintang (The Nationalist Party; The Nationalists; KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC). ... Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887–April 5, 1975) was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the death of Sun Yat-sen in 1925. ... The Long March (长征, pinyin:Chángzhēng) was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Chinese Communist Army to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. ...

During the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), the Red Army was nominally integrated into the Chinese national army forming the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army units. During this time, the Red Army used primarily guerilla tactics, but also fought several conventional battles with the Japanese and the Kuomintang. The Second Sino-Japanese War was a major invasion of eastern China by Japan preceding and during World War II. It ended with the surrender of Japan in 1945. ... The Eighth Route Army (八路軍 Pinyin: bālù-jūn) was one of the main military forces of the Communist Party of China, active during the Chinese Civil War and Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). ... The New Fourth Army (新四軍 Pinyin: xin-si-jun) and the Eighth Route Army were the two main communist forces from 1938. ... Guerrilla (also called a partisan) is a term borrowed from Spanish (from guerra meaning war) used to describe small combat groups. ... The Kuomintang (KMT) or Nationalist Party of China (Traditional: 中國國民黨; Simplified: 中国国民党; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo Kuo-min-tang; Tongyong Pinyin: Jhongguo Guomindang) is a conservative political party currently active in the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. ...

After the end of the Sino-Japanese War, the Red Army renamed itself the PLA and won the civil war against the Kuomintang. The Chinese Civil War was a conflict in China between the Kuomintang (The Nationalist Party; The Nationalists; KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC). ...

Vintage Chinese propaganda poster showing strength and determination of People's Army

During the 1950s, the PLA with Soviet help transformed itself from a peasant army into a more modern one. One of the earliest operations was the reoccupation of Tibet in 1950. In December 1951, the PLA intervened in the Korean War as United Nations forces under General Douglas MacArthur approached the Yalu River. Under the weight of this offensive, Chinese forces captured Seoul, but were subsequently pushed back to a line roughly straddling the 38th Parallel. The war ended as a standstill in 1953. In 1962, the PLA also defeated India in the Sino-Indian War. Image File history File links Chinese poster showing strength and determination of Peoples Army This is a copyrighted poster. ... Image File history File links Chinese poster showing strength and determination of Peoples Army This is a copyrighted poster. ... // Events and trends The 1950s in Western society was marked with a sharp rise in the economy for the first time in almost 30 years and return to the 1920s-type consumer society built on credit and boom-times, as well as the height of the baby-boom from returning... Tibet (Tibetan: བོད་, Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect; Chinese: 西藏, pinyin: XÄ«zàng; older spelling Thibet) is a region in Central Asia and the home of the Tibetan people. ... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... The Korean War (Korean: 한국전쟁/韓國戰爭), from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ... The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization established in 1945 and now made up of 191 member states, which includes virtually all internationally recognized independent countries. ... General Douglas MacArthur aboard a battle ship toward the end of World War II, 1945 Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880-5 April 1964) was an American military leader. ... The Yalu (Amnok) River is a river on the border between China and North Korea. ... Seoul (서울,   listen?) is the capital of South Korea and is one of the most populous cities in the world, located in the northwestern part of the country on the Han River. ... The 38th parallel north is a line latitude that cuts across Asia and North America. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Sino-Indian war was a short border war between India and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the worlds two most populous countries, which took place in late 1962. ...

Establishment of a professional military force equipped with modern weapons and doctrine was the last of the "Four Modernizations" announced by Zhou Enlai and supported by Deng Xiaoping. In keeping with Deng's mandate to reform, the PLA has demobilized millions of men and women since 1978 and has introduced modern methods in such areas as recruitment and manpower, strategy, and education and training. In 1979, the PLA fought Vietnam in the Sino-Vietnamese War. The Four Modernizations (simplified Chinese: 四个现代化; traditional Chinese: 四個現代化;), were the goals of Deng Xiaoping’s reforms. ... Zhou Enlai (Simplified Chinese: 周恩来; Traditional Chinese: 周恩來; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chou En-lai) (March 5, 1898 – January 8, 1976), a prominent Chinese Communist leader, was Premier of the Peoples Republic of China from 1949 until his death. ... Deng Xiaoping Deng Xiaoping   listen? (Simplified Chinese: 邓小平; Traditional Chinese: 鄧小平; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; pronounced Dung Shyao-ping; August 22, 1904—February 19, 1997) was a revolutionary elder in the Communist Party of China (CPC) who served as the de facto ruler of the Peoples Republic of... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... The Sino-Vietnamese War or Third Indochina War was a war fought in 1979 between the neighboring countries of the Peoples Republic of China and Vietnam. ...

In the 1980s, the PRC shrunk its military considerably on the theory that freeing up resources for economic development was in the PRC's interest. // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ...

Following the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, ideological correctness was temporarily revived as the dominant theme in Chinese military affairs. Reform and modernization appear to have since resumed their position as the PLA's priority objectives, although the armed forces' political loyalty to the Communist Party of China remains a leading concern. One other area of concern to the political leadership was the PLA's involvement in civilian economic activities. Concern that these activities were adversely impacting PLA readiness has led the political leadership to attempt to remove the PLA's business empire. 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Unknown Rebel — This famous photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Jeff Widener, depicts a lone protester whose actions halted the progress of a column of advancing tanks for over half an hour. ... Communist Party of China flag The Communist Party of China (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; pinyin: ) is the ruling party of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

PLA soldiers marching in Beijing

Beginning in the 1980s, the PLA tried to transform itself from a land-based power, centered on a vast ground force, to a smaller, mobile, high-tech military capable of mounting defensive operations beyond its coastal borders. The motivation for this was that a massive land invasion by Russia is no longer seen as a major threat, and the new threats to the PRC are seen to be a declaration of independence by Taiwan, possibly with assistance from the United States, or a confrontation over the Spratly Islands. In addition, the economic center of gravity of mainland China has shifted from the interior to the coastal regions and the PRC is now more dependent on trade than it has been in the past. Furthermore, the possibility of a militarily resurgent Japan remains a worry to the Chinese military leadership. Download high resolution version (1050x742, 189 KB)courtesy of http://www. ... Download high resolution version (1050x742, 189 KB)courtesy of http://www. ... In this map of China, the light-coloured areas represent Mainland China, while yellow coloured area refers to Taiwan. ...

The PRC's power-projection capability is limited and one Chinese general characterized China's military as having "short arms and weak legs". There has however been an effort to redress these deficiencies in recent years. The PLA has acquired some advanced weapons systems, including Sovremenny class destroyers, Sukhoi Su-27 and Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft, and Kilo-class diesel submarines from Russia. It is also currently building 4 new destroyers including 2 AAW Type 052C class guided missile destroyers. However, the mainstay of the air force continues to be the 1960s-vintage J-7 fighter. In addition, the PLA has attempted to build an indigenous aerospace and military industry with its production of the J-10, which currently is in production. It reportedly contains technology supplied by Israel from its Lavi fighter program as well as technology reverse-engineered from an F-16 reportedly given to the PRC by Pakistan. The PLA launched a new class of nuclear submarine on December 3, 2004 capable of launching nuclear warheads that could strike targets across the Pacific Ocean. The Sovremenny Class destroyer has a maximum displacement of 8480t. ... The Sukhoi Su-27 (Су-27 in Cyrillic script) (NATO reporting name Flanker) is originally a Soviet fighter aircraft designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau (SDB). ... An Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30 landing (Nato: Flanker-C) The Sukhoi Su-30 is a military aircraft that was produced by the Russian company Sukhoi in 1996. ... The Yunes, an Iranian submarine of the Kilo class Kilo class is the NATO reporting name for a type of military diesel-electric submarines that are made in Russia. ... The 1960s, or The Sixties, in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... The Chengdu J-7 (export versions are designated F-7) is a Peoples Republic of China-built fighter jet derived from the Russian MiG-21. ... The Chengdu J-10 is a multirole fighter aircraft produced by the Peoples Republic of China Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC). ... IAI Lavi (Hebrew for - Young Lion) is a prototype concept fighter jet Indigenously developed by Israel. ... F-16 Fighting Falcon over Iraq The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States. ... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004(MMIV) is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

China's military leadership has also been reacting to the display of American military might during the Gulf War and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq . C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The 1991 Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations mandated by the United Nations and led by the United States. ... This article covers invasion specifics. ...

During the 1980s and 1990s, the PLA became extensively involved in creating a business empire including companies in areas not normally associated with the military (i.e., travel and real estate). Much of the motivation for this was to supplement the PLA's normal budget, whose growth was restricted. Chairman Mao's belief that people and groups should be self-sufficient also played a role in the PLA's varied business interests. In the early 1990s, the leadership of the Communist Party and the high command of the PLA became alarmed that these business transactions were in conflict with the PLA's military mission. The business interests of the PLA were eroding military discipline, and there were reports of corruption resulting from the PLA businesses. As a result, the PLA was ordered to spin off its companies. Typically, the actual management of the companies did not change, but the officers involved were retired from active duty within the PLA and the companies were given private boards of retired PLA officers. Military units were compensated for the loss of profitable businesses with increased state funding. // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. ...   Mao Zedong? (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976; Mao Tse-tung in Wade-Giles) was the chairman of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China from 1943 and the chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China from 1945 until his death. ...

Campaigns of the Red/People's Liberation Army

• 1931 to 1945: World War II
• 1945 to 1950: Chinese Civil War against forces of the Kuomintang; reoccupation of Tibet
• December 1951 to 1953: Korean War (under the official banner of the Chinese People's Volunteers, although they are PLA regulars)
• August 1954 to May 1958: Taiwan Strait Crisis at Quemoy and Matsu
• 1959: Suppression of uprising in Tibet
• October 1962 to November 1962: Sino-Indian War
• 1969 to 1978: Border skirmishes with Soviet Union
• 1974: Sea battle near Xisha Islands with South Vietnam
• 1979: Sino-Vietnamese War
• 1986: Border skirmishes with Vietnam

1931 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that engulfed much of the globe... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Chinese Civil War was a conflict in China between the Kuomintang (The Nationalist Party; The Nationalists; KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC). ... The Kuomintang (KMT) or Nationalist Party of China (Traditional: 中國國民黨; Simplified: 中国国民党; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo Kuo-min-tang; Tongyong Pinyin: Jhongguo Guomindang) is a conservative political party currently active in the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. ... Tibet (Tibetan: བོད་, Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect; Chinese: 西藏, pinyin: XÄ«zàng; older spelling Thibet) is a region in Central Asia and the home of the Tibetan people. ... 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Korean War (Korean: 한국전쟁/韓國戰爭), from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ... 1954 was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Taiwan Strait Area The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait is a 180km-wide Strait between mainland China and the island of Taiwan. ... Quemoy, Kinmen, or Chinmen (金門, pinyin: Jīnmén, POJ: Kim-mn̂g) (pop. ... The Matsu Islands (馬祖列島 or less frequently, 馬祖群島 Pinyin: Mǎzǔ) are a minor archipelago of 19 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait administered as Lienchiang County (連江 Pinyin: Liánjiāng), Fujian Province of the Republic of China (ROC, based on Taiwan). ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tibet (Tibetan: བོད་, Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect; Chinese: 西藏, pinyin: XÄ«zàng; older spelling Thibet) is a region in Central Asia and the home of the Tibetan people. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Sino-Indian war was a short border war between India and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the worlds two most populous countries, which took place in late 1962. ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... The Paracel Islands or Xisha Islands (Chinese: 西沙群島, in pinyin: Xi1sha1 Qun2dao3; Vietnamese: Hoàng Sa) are a group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea and part of the South China Sea Islands, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines. ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... The Sino-Vietnamese War or Third Indochina War was a war fought in 1979 between the neighboring countries of the Peoples Republic of China and Vietnam. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Ranks of the People's Liberation Army
• Military History of China
• Chinese Civil War