CHINA MAY REDUCE 5 OF 18 ARMY GROUPS OF ITS LAND FORCES

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is going to reduce its several army corps in the frameworks of the ongoing military reform.

PLA troops pictured taking part in a military parade in the centre of Beijing two years ago (Photo: SCMP / Simon Song)

Five army groups (army corps) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will be reduced within the framework of the ongoing military reform, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported, citing its own military sources.

Four army groups, in particular the 14th, 20th, 27th and 47th corps are supposed to be disbanded, while the 40th and 16th corps will be combined. Some part of the disbanded army’s units may be transferred to marines of the Chinese Navy and the airborne forces of the PLA Air Force.

On March 13, the same newspaper reported, citing some military sources, that the number of marines of the PLA Navy will be increased manyfold, as well as that two brigades from the ground forces had already been transferred to its composition in addition to the two previously existing brigades of marines. In total, the number of marines may be brought up to 100,000 of people, some of whom will be deployed in Djibouti and the Pakistani port of Gwadar.

As it is known, the total number of the PLA should be reduced by 300,000 people (from 2.3 million to 2 million people). Some 170,000 of them will be reduced from the ranks of non-combat personnel. However, taking into account the anticipated large-scale increase in the number of marines, the most part of the job cut will be taken by the ground forces.

The picture below shows army corps that can be disbanded or combined.

Photo: SCMP

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