Inside the PLA’s new austerity drive: lean, mean, printing-on-both-sides machine
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is distributing second-hand briefcases, salvaging screws and steel bars, and reusing holiday decorations to keep costs down as part of a thrift campaign emphasising growth through frugality. It forms part of a broader cost-cutting effort in the Chinese military under Beijing’s 15th five-year plan covering 2026 to 2030, which calls for building the armed forces…
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is implementing a lean, cost-saving drive under Beijing's 15-year plan, which runs from 2026 to 2030. The campaign emphasizes frugality and sustainability, aligning with the broader government push for efficiency and low-cost development. The PLA Daily has reported several practical measures adopted by units across the military to reduce expenses and waste.
One air force unit in the Eastern Theatre Command has repurposed old decorative flags for holiday displays instead of purchasing new ones. The unit has also adopted double-sided printing, recycling parts from damaged equipment, and organizing ride-sharing for similar destinations. These savings have been redirected towards purchasing gym equipment for the unit's personnel.
Meanwhile, a People's Armed Police unit in Henan province has salvaged screws, steel bars, and other usable materials from disassembled equipment to create training devices, thereby cutting procurement costs. The unit has established recycling stations in maintenance workshops and encouraged squads to share spare parts, which they have used to construct moving targets and modify training gear.
Additionally, an air force unit recently distributed second-hand briefcases to officers attending a training session, replacing the need for new ones. Other cost-cutting measures include stricter fuel consumption controls and maintenance expense reviews. A unit responsible for administrative logistics under the Central Military Commission has implemented a digital vehicle management system to monitor fuel usage and driving conditions.
The system tracks monthly fuel consumption data and recognizes the most fuel-efficient drivers quarterly.
Furthermore, the unit has upgraded its maintenance facilities by installing 35 sets of equipment, allowing personnel to perform vehicle repairs independently instead of relying on external services. These initiatives reflect the PLA's commitment to lean operations and adherence to the "tight life" slogan, which is echoed across civilian departments in China.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
