Communist Chinese Forces

Chinese People's Liberation Army 中国人民解放军
Emblem of the People's Liberation Army (top), PLA flag (bottom). The characters are "8 1", referencing August 1.
Motto	为人民服务! ("Serve the People!")
Founded	1 August 1927 (Nanchang Uprising)
Service branches	PLA Ground Force PLA Navy PLA Air Force PLA Rocket Force  PLA Strategic Support Force
Headquarters	Central Military Commission, Beijing
Leadership
Leaders of Central Military Commission	Xi Jinping (Chairman) General Fan Changlong (Vice-chairman) Air Force General Xu Qiliang (Vice-chairman)
Minister of National Defense	General Chang Wanquan
Chief of Joint Staff	General Fang Fenghui
Manpower
Conscription	Compulsory by law, but never enforced
Active personnel	2,300,000 active (2017)
Reserve personnel	510,000 reserve (2017)
Expenditures
Budget	US$145.8 billion (2015) (ranked 2nd)
Percent of GDP	1.9% (2017)
Related articles
History	History of the PLA Modernization of the PLA Historical Chinese wars and battles Wars China Involved

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the armed forces of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the People's Republic of China. The PLA consists of five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force.

The PLA is the world's largest military force, with a strength of approximately 2,285,000 personnel, 0.18% of the country's population. In September 2015, Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and the commander-in-chief of the PLA, announced a reduction of the number of military personnel by 300,000. The PLA's insignia consists of a roundel with a red star bearing the Chinese characters for Eight One, referring to the Nanchang Uprising which began on August 1, 1927.

The PLA is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the CPC. It is legally obliged to follow the principle of civilian control of the military, although in practical terms this principle has been implemented in such a way as to ensure the PLA is under the absolute control of the Chinese Communist Party. Its commander in chief is the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (usually the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China as well as Paramount leader). The Ministry of National Defense, which operates under the State Council, does not exercise any authority over the PLA and is far less powerful than the CMC. A system of political officers embedded within the military ensures party authority over the armed forces so that the primary role of the Ministry of Defense is that of a liaison office with foreign militaries rather than a commanding authority. The political and military leadership have made a concerted effort to create a professional military force, the duties of which are restricted to national defence and to the provision of assistance in domestic economic construction and emergency relief. This conception of the role of the PLA requires the promotion of specialised officers who can understand modern weaponry and handle combined arms operations. Units around the country are assigned to one of five Theater commands by geographical location.