Chinese Army Now Makes up to 50% of Total PLA Troops

The world's largest force of China has reduced the size of its land-based army by about 50 per cent and has instead increased its navy and air force. This change in the strategy is a part of transforming the People 's Liberation Army (PLA) into a modern force.

In a feature report which mentioned this change in strategic plan of China , Xinhua on Sunday said "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."

As per the report, the navy, air force, rocket force and strategic support force combined together now accounts for more than half the strength of China's land-army which was considered to be the dominant unit of China.

Also many speculate this move by China as a strategy which will allow China to move beyond it's borders and display it's strength overseas.

Shanghai-based military analyst Ni Lexiong said," The Chinese military used to … operate following the model established in the second world war. It had to be reformed and optimised to meet the pressing needs of the changing times and this is the purpose of the overhaul."