People's Liberation Army

On April 19, 2024, the PLA reorganized by splitting the Strategic Support Force into three separate arms: the Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, and Information Support Force. This major restructuring integrated space, cyber and information domains, reflecting modern warfare priorities.

In 1981, the PLA conducted its largest military exercise in North China since the founding of the People’s Republic. This exercise reflected the shift in focus towards modernization, readiness, and strategic capability in the post‑Mao era.

On February 17, 1979, the PLA launched a brief but intense punitive invasion against Vietnam following deterioration in bilateral ties. The conflict highlighted deficiencies in PLA mobility and command, prompting later doctrinal and structural reforms.

In October 1962, the PLA engaged Indian forces in the Sino‑Indian War over disputed Himalayan border territories. Despite initial PLA advances, the campaign intensified border tensions and exposed logistical and strategic weaknesses within the PLA terrain operations.

On September 27, 1955, the PLA formally introduced a system of military ranks, transitioning from an egalitarian revolutionary force to a conventional modern military framework. This era marked a professionalization drive under Soviet assistance.

In November 1950, units of the PLA crossed into Korea as the People’s Volunteer Army, entering the Korean War to counter UN forces near the Yalu River. The intervention led to initial successes but also heavy losses, and ultimately catalyzed PLA modernization efforts.

On November 11, 1949, the Central Military Commission dissolved its Aviation Section and founded the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), establishing its headquarters in Beijing and organizing military-region air forces, a key step in building a modern multi-branch PLA.

After Japan’s surrender in 1945, Communist forces began merging and reorganizing. On February 1947, the Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army were merged, and on October 10, 1947, the "Manifesto of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" renamed the force formally as the People’s Liberation Army. It reflected unity and standardization of the CCP’s military.

On July 7, 1937, following the outbreak of the Second Sino‑Japanese War, the CCP’s forces nominally became part of the National Revolutionary Army as the Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army. This strategic integration allowed the Red Army to continue guerrilla warfare while consolidating CCP influence behind Japanese lines.

On October 16, 1934, facing encirclement by Kuomintang forces, the Red Army commenced the Long March from Jiangxi to evade destruction. This arduous strategic retreat across thousands of kilometers reinforced Mao Zedong’s leadership and became a foundational myth in PLA history and CCP legitimacy.

On August 1, 1927, in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, Communist elements of the National Revolutionary Army launched an armed uprising against the Kuomintang, founding the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army—recognised as the origin of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This marked the beginning of the CCP’s independent armed struggle. The date “August 1” (“八一”) remains symbolic and appears on the PLA’s emblem.