# PLA
Latest news and articles about PLA
Total: 151 articles found
The Weight of the Blue Beret: A Decade of Commemoration for China’s Fallen Peacekeepers
Ten years after the deaths of three Chinese peacekeepers in Mali and South Sudan, high-profile commemorations highlight China's ongoing commitment to UN missions and the domestic use of their sacrifice to foster military patriotism and global prestige.
A Hidden Threat: The Medical Mystery at the Heart of China’s Military Recruitment
A 17-year-old recruit’s military aspirations were nearly halted when a mandatory physical revealed a sewing needle lodged in his chest since infancy. The needle, positioned millimeters from major blood vessels, was successfully removed using advanced minimally invasive surgery, highlighting both a medical miracle and the rigor of China's recruitment screenings.
Bittersweet Oranges: The Enduring Symbolism of Chen Xiangrong in China’s Border Narrative
Comrades of fallen soldier Chen Xiangrong visited his grave during the Qingming Festival, using the symbolic offering of oranges to reinforce the state narrative of sacrifice and territorial defense. The event underscores how China continues to leverage the 2020 Galwan Valley clash to foster nationalistic sentiment and resolve regarding its borders.
Ghosts in the Barracks: The Eternal Utility of Zhang Side in China’s Modern Military
The Chinese military is using the 2026 Qingming Festival to reinforce the legacy of Zhang Side, the soldier who inspired the 'Serve the People' slogan. This move highlights the CCP's ongoing effort to maintain ideological control and revolutionary loyalty within a rapidly modernizing and professionalizing PLA.
Guarding the Strait: The PLA’s Elite 'Sea and Air Eagles' and the Road to 2027
The Eastern Theater Command's elite 'Sea and Air Eagles' aviation brigade is intensifying its combat readiness as the PLA approaches its 2027 centenary goal. Operating on the frontlines of the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea, the unit exemplifies Beijing's shift toward high-intensity, immediate-response military operations.
Oranges for a Martyr: How China Curates the Memory of its Border Conflict
On the eve of the Qingming Festival, tributes to Galwan Valley casualty Chen Xiangrong underscore the Chinese state's focus on 'martyr culture' to bolster nationalism. The act of comrades leaving oranges at his grave serves as a powerful domestic symbol of China’s resolve in its ongoing border disputes with India.
Filtering for Fitness: Inside the PLA’s Push to Standardize Recruit Health
Medical experts from the PLA's Joint Logistics Support Force are conducting comprehensive health re-examinations of new recruits at training sites across China. This initiative aims to standardize physical fitness standards and ensure that the incoming workforce is medically capable of meeting modern combat requirements.
The Silent Pillar: 17 Years of Sacrifice and Soft Power on China’s High-Altitude Frontier
This report examines the 17-year journey of Cheng Tingting, a military wife in China’s Western Theater Command, highlighting the intersection of personal sacrifice and national security. It analyzes how military families serve as essential soft-power pillars in China’s underdeveloped border regions while reinforcing the ideological 'Family-State' narrative.
From Warring States to Algorithmic Warfare: The PLA’s Quest to Modernize Ancient Wisdom
The PLA is integrating ancient Chinese military philosophy with modern drone warfare training to cultivate a unique strategic identity among new recruits. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between traditional 'Jingchu' martial spirit and the requirements of future autonomous combat.
The Missile and the Martyr: China’s Nuclear Symbolism at the Tomb of Wang Wei
On the 25th anniversary of the 2001 US-China mid-air collision, a model of the DF-5C ICBM was placed at the tomb of pilot Wang Wei, symbolizing China's military transformation. This act reflects a broader cultural trend of using advanced weaponry models to demonstrate that the era of national 'humiliation' has ended.
The Low-Cost Lever: Why Sea Mines Remain the Ultimate Threat to the Strait of Hormuz
Chinese military expert Du Wenlong identifies sea mines as the most cost-effective and dangerous tool for blockading the Strait of Hormuz. The strategy relies on the high cost of de-mining and the immediate economic paralysis caused by the mere threat of maritime explosives.
The Invisible Cog: A Female Cadet’s Path Through China’s Military Modernization
The story of cadet Chen Ke highlights the evolving professional identity of support personnel within the PLA, shifting from mundane clerical work to a specialized focus on logistics and finance. Her journey underscores how technological upgrades in equipment and a renewed emphasis on the 'science' of military spending are being used to motivate non-combat troops.