Reviewing China's biggest military parade of recent times, marking the end of World War Ⅱ, Chinese President and People's Liberation Army (PLA) leader Xi Jinping announced Sept. 3 that the PLA will shed 300,000 troops, signaling the start of a long-awaited structural reform of the world's largest armed force. While China's state media reported this would reduce active troop levels to 2 million, other Chinese sources indicate the army could lose more than 300,000 people. China's air force, navy and strategic rocket forces would expand, and a fifth branch dedicated to space operations could be formed.
展开▼
