As part of its "unprecedented" strategic shift, China has reduced the size of its land-based standing army by half and improved the combat capability of its air-force and navy, reports Press Trust of India (PTI).

“This new data is unprecedented in the history of the PLA – the army now accounts for less than 50 per cent of the total number of PLA troops; almost half of our non-combatant units have been made redundant, and the number of officers in the PLA has been reduced by 30 per cent,” said a feature story in Xinhua, Chinese state news agency, on Sunday (20 January).

The other four branches of Chinese military - the navy, air force, rocket force and strategic support force (responsible for areas such as cyber warfare) - now make up more than half of its strength.

Presently China has two million active servicemen and women, making the PLA the biggest armed force in the world.

Army Modernisation

Xi Jinping had stated in 2018 that the modernisation of Chinese national forces should be completed by 2035 and that by the mid-21st century, the armed forces will be fully transformed into world-class forces.

“To enhance political loyalty, troops nationwide have strictly observed political discipline and rules, resolutely safeguarded Xi's core status and the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, and implemented the responsibility system for the CMC chairman,” stated a Xinhua report. Xi is the CMC chairman.

Also Read: How India Is Strengthening IAF Capabilities Along China Border

China Foreign Policy

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