China's Drive to Build a World-Class Military
How the Balance of Power Between China and the United States Is Changing—and Whether a Major War in the Taiwan Strait Is Inevitable
In August 1927, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) began its history with the Nanchang Uprising in southeastern China. This uprising marked the first armed conflict between the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), who were once allies until the KMT launched a campaign of killings and repression against the CCP.
The uprising failed militarily, but it became a strategic and ideological turning point for the CCP. The rebels who escaped became the nucleus of China's first Red Army, which would later evolve into the PLA. The PLA grew from around 20,000 troops to six million during the height of China's communist rule in 1949-1950. However, the military became a source of corruption and lost combat readiness.
In 2012, the fifth generation of Chinese leaders, led by Xi Jinping, took power and began addressing the military's issues. Xi launched an anti-corruption campaign and targeted military leaders, setting a precedent for holding high-ranking officials accountable. The PLA's modernization program, initiated in 2013, aims to complete its transformation by 2035, making it a world-class military capable of protecting China's interests globally and challenging U.S. military dominance.
Written by urgent.news from Ukrinform - Politics's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
