# PLA
Latest news and articles about PLA
Total: 259 articles found
Vows in the Thin Air: How China Uses High-Altitude History to Steel its Modern Border Guards
An engineering regiment of the Xinjiang Military District recently visited the Kangxiwa Martyrs’ Cemetery to conduct ideological training at 4,280 meters above sea level. The visit utilized historical artifacts and battle sites to reinforce the PLA's 'not an inch of territory' doctrine among modern border guards.
Strategic Realism: The Irreversible Power Gap Across the Taiwan Strait
Military analyst Chiu Shih-ching warns that the power gap between the PLA and Taiwan's military has become so vast that a successful defense is no longer feasible. This shift in the strategic balance challenges long-held assumptions about deterrence and the effectiveness of Taiwan's current defensive strategies.
The Altruism of Rank: Why the PLA is Resurrecting Mao-Era Self-Sacrifice
The Chinese military is reviving historical anecdotes of founding generals requesting lower ranks to instill a sense of selflessness and correct performance values among its modern officer corps. This ideological campaign aims to suppress careerism and ensure that personal ambitions do not interfere with the Communist Party's strategic military objectives.
Rhetoric Escalation: Beijing Slams Taiwan’s Defense Spending as a ‘Blood-Sucking’ Burden
Beijing's Ministry of National Defense has denounced Taiwan's new special defense budget, characterizing military purchases from the U.S. as a drain on public resources. The rhetoric highlights China's strategy to delegitimize the DPP administration and discourage Taiwan's military modernization efforts.
The Long March as Modern Mantra: Beijing’s Persistent Pursuit of Revolutionary Legitimacy
State media coverage of the Long March Memorial in Jiangxi highlights the CCP's ongoing efforts to leverage revolutionary history as a tool for modern ideological unity. The narrative frames historical struggles as a template for overcoming contemporary geopolitical and economic challenges.
Growing Pains: Why China’s Paramilitary is Lengthening its Beds to Boost Combat Readiness
The People’s Armed Police Hubei Corps is overhauling its barracks to accommodate a taller generation of recruits whose sleep deprivation was hindering training performance. By replacing outdated 1.9-meter beds and introducing modern sleep hygiene protocols, the military aims to convert logistical improvements directly into enhanced combat readiness.
The PLA’s Low-Tech Hedge: Why China Preserves Its Last Military Pigeon Unit
While modernizing its high-tech capabilities, the PLA maintains a single specialized unit for training military pigeons as a low-tech backup for communication. This strategy provides a resilient, un-jammable alternative to digital systems during high-intensity electronic warfare.
Professionalizing the Backbone: China’s Military Tackles the Modernization Skills Gap
The PLA’s 77th Group Army is implementing personalized career development and mentorship programs to bridge the skills gap created by rapid modernization. These reforms aim to professionalize the NCO corps, accelerate technical proficiency, and improve retention through transparent career planning and data-driven talent management.
Vertical Integration: China’s 76th Group Army Tests Rapid-Response Medevac Capabilities
The PLA’s 76th Group Army has conducted intensive helicopter-led field rescue drills to enhance air-ground coordination and rapid-response capabilities. These exercises signal a strategic focus on improving military medical logistics and survivability in the difficult terrain of China's Western Theater Command.
Tradition as a Catalyst: How the PLA’s ‘Qingzhou Company’ Bridges Revolutionary History and Mechanized Warfare
The PLA's 'Qingzhou Company' exemplifies China's military modernization by blending advanced mechanized warfare and drone technology with deep-seated revolutionary history. This narrative underscores how the Chinese military uses 'Red Heritage' to motivate soldiers through the difficult transition from traditional infantry to high-tech armored units.
Stolen Valor: The Rise and Fall of a Fake 'Special Forces King'
A man in Jiangxi province was arrested after a two-year scheme in which he impersonated an elite PLA soldier to defraud a businessman of 80,000 RMB. The suspect used counterfeit gear and fabricated combat stories to exploit the victim's admiration for the military.
Iron and Ideology: How a Storied PLA Unit is Navigating the Shift to High-Tech Warfare
The PLA's storied 'Qingzhou Company' is transitioning from traditional infantry roles to high-tech armored and drone-integrated warfare. By leveraging its historical wartime legacy, the unit is motivating its personnel to overcome the steep learning curve associated with China's military modernization and professionalization efforts.