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Armed Forces and Units

People's Liberation Army

Modern

The People's Liberation Army was founded on August 1, 1927, when Communist-led units mutinied against the Republic of China's Nationalist government in the Nanchang Uprising, an event still commemorated as the force's founding date, and subsequently developed under Mao Zedong's leadership through the Chinese Civil War, the Long March, and the resistance against Japanese occupation during World War II before securing the Communist Party's victory over Nationalist forces in 1949. Structured, since a major reorganization in 2016, around five theater commands and services spanning ground forces, the navy, air force, rocket force and strategic support force, the PLA functions as the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party rather than a state military in the conventional Western sense, with the party's Central Military Commission holding ultimate command authority. The PLA fought major twentieth century conflicts including the Korean War, where Chinese forces intervened against United Nations troops in 1950, and a 1979 border war with Vietnam, while undergoing a sustained modernization drive from the 1990s onward that transformed it from a large but technologically outdated force into an increasingly professionalized, technologically advanced military. As of the twenty-first century the PLA is the largest standing military force in the world by active personnel, and its continued modernization, particularly in naval and missile capability, is closely watched as a central factor in the security balance of the Asia-Pacific region.

Facts
Force Type
Military wing of the Chinese Communist Party 1
Founded Year
1927 1
Country
People's Republic of China 1
Force Type
Force Type (category)
Army 1
People's Liberation Army
Filter Results3 entries
Connections

Fought In

The Communist People's Liberation Army defeated the Nationalist forces in the Chinese Civil War, concluding in 1949

Sino-Indian War, Wars

The People's Liberation Army fought and won the brief 1962 Sino-Indian War

Operates

BMP-1, Weapons Systems
Source BMP-1, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: CM-102
Source Wikipedia: Dongfeng (missile)
Source Wikipedia: FN Model 24 and Model 30
Source Wikipedia: Hanyang 88
Source Wikipedia: M41 Walker Bulldog
Source Wikipedia: Mosin-Nagant Rifle
Source Wikipedia: PCL-181
Source Wikipedia: PLZ-05
Source Wikipedia: QBU-10
Source Wikipedia: QBZ-191
Source Wikipedia: QBZ-95
Source Wikipedia: QJB-201
Source Wikipedia: QW missile
Source Wikipedia: SKS Carbine
Source Wikipedia: T-54/T-55
T-55, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: T-54/T-55
Source Wikipedia: Type 44 carbine
Source Wikipedia: Type 63 assault rifle
Source Wikipedia: Type 77 pistol
Source Wikipedia: Type 81 assault rifle
Source Wikipedia: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
YJ-83, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: YJ-83
YJ-91, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: YJ-91
Source Wikipedia: ZSU-57-2
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. People's Liberation Army, Wikipedia
  • Lead, first sentence, first clause
    is the military wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
  • History narrative, opening sentence on the 1927 founding
    The CCP founded its military wing on 1 August 1927 during the Nanchang uprising
  • Lead, first sentence, second clause
    the primary armed forces of the People's Republic of China (PRC)
  • Per the entity's own name and sourced description.
View the Source
Wikidata: People's Liberation Army
Wikidata Q6147859, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Wikipedia: QJB-201
Operates: QJB-201, infobox used_by/operator field: 'People's Liberation Army'View the Source
Wikipedia: YJ-91
Operates: YJ-91, infobox used_by/operator field: 'People's Republic of China'View the Source
Wikipedia: Mosin-Nagant Rifle
WikipediaOperates: Mosin-Nagant Rifle, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Mosin-Nagant Rifle, Wikipedia article text
The Chinese Type 53 carbine saw extensive service with the People's Liberation Army from 1953 until the late 1950s/early 1960s when the PLA went over to the Chinese Type 56 carbine and the Chinese Type 56 assault rifle.
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Wikipedia: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Operates: UH-60 Black Hawk, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: UH-60 Black Hawk, Wikipedia article text
At the end of this testing, the People's Liberation Army purchased 24 S-70C-2s, equipped with more powerful GE T700-701A engines for improved high-altitude performance.
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Wikipedia: SKS Carbine
WikipediaOperates: SKS Carbine, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: SKS Carbine, Wikipedia article text
Used for ceremonial purposes by the People's Liberation Army.
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Wikipedia: T-54/T-55
Wikipedia
  • Operates: T-55, Wikipedia article text
    China produced thousands of Type 59 tanks (based on the Soviet T-54A) for the People's Liberation Army, which were used during the Vietnam War and used en-masse against Vietnam in the Sino-Vietnamese War and sold the similar (but upgraded) Type 69 tanks to both Iran and Iraq during the Iran-Iraq
  • Operates: T-54/T-55, Wikipedia article text
    China produced thousands of Type 59 tanks (based on the Soviet T-54A) for the People's Liberation Army, which were used during the Vietnam War and used en-masse against Vietnam in the Sino-Vietnamese War and sold the similar (but upgraded) Type 69 tanks to both Iran and Iraq during the Iran-Iraq
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BMP-1, Wikipedia
Operates: BMP-1, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: BMP-1, Wikipedia article text
It is still in service with the People's Liberation Army.
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Wikipedia: PLZ-05
Operates: PLZ-05, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: PLZ-05, Wikipedia article text
The PLZ-05 or the Type 05 is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by the People's Liberation Army of China to replace the Type 59-1 130 mm towed gun and Type 83 152 mm self-propelled gun.
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Wikipedia: PCL-181
Operates: PCL-181, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: PCL-181, Wikipedia article text
The PCL-181 is a Chinese truck-mounted, 155 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF).
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Wikipedia: QBZ-95
Operates: QBZ-95, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: QBZ-95, Wikipedia article text
Both modifications are fielded within the Chinese police force and People's Liberation Army.
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Wikipedia: Hanyang 88
Operates: Hanyang 88, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Hanyang 88, Wikipedia article text
When the rifles were used by the People's Liberation Army, they were either used by militia forces or were used as training/drill rifles.
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Wikipedia: QW missile
Operates: QW missile, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: QW missile, Wikipedia article text
In 1997, the QW-1 was equipped for the frontline units of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
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Wikipedia: ZSU-57-2
Operates: ZSU-57-2, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: ZSU-57-2, Wikipedia article text
Several Type 80 SPAAGs were tested and accepted into service by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in small numbers.
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Wikipedia: M41 Walker Bulldog
Operates: M41 Walker Bulldog, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: M41 Walker Bulldog, Wikipedia article text
Captured M41s were employed by the Lebanese Arab Army (LAA), Army of Free Lebanon (AFL), Kataeb Regulatory Forces (KRF), Tigers Militia, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
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Wikipedia: QBZ-191
Operates: QBZ-191, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: QBZ-191, Wikipedia article text
The QBZ-191 is designated as part of the Type 20 () weapon family by the People's Liberation Army.
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Wikipedia: Dongfeng (missile)
Operates: Dongfeng (missile), Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Dongfeng (missile), Wikipedia article text
Newer systems, such as the DF-31, DF-31A, and JL-2, will give China a more survivable nuclear force. The Dongfeng series, typically abbreviated as "DF missiles", are a family of short, medium, intermediate-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles operated by the Chinese People's
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Wikipedia: YJ-83
WikipediaOperates: YJ-83, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: YJ-83, Wikipedia article text
The YJ-83 entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy in 1998 and 1999, equipping large numbers of its surface warships.
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Wikipedia: Type 81 assault rifle
Operates: Type 81 assault rifle, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Type 81 assault rifle, Wikipedia article text
It replaced the semi-automatic Type 56 carbine as the standard service rifle of the People's Liberation Army during the 1980s.
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Wikipedia: Type 63 assault rifle
Operates: Type 63 assault rifle, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Type 63 assault rifle, Wikipedia article text
It was originally introduced to replace the SKS as the standard service rifle of the People's Liberation Army, but was prematurely withdrawn from PLA service due to numerous production difficulties.
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Wikipedia: QBU-10
Operates: QBU-10, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: QBU-10, Wikipedia article text
First introduced in 2010, it has since seen use by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Navy, and Marine Corps.
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Wikipedia: Type 77 pistol
Operates: Type 77 pistol, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Type 77 pistol, Wikipedia article text
The Type 77 () is a 7.62×17 mm Type 64 caliber semi-automatic pistol in service with all branches of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the People's Republic of China, People's Armed Police and various Chinese police forces.
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Wikipedia: FN Model 24 and Model 30
Operates: FN Model 24 and Model 30, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: FN Model 24 and Model 30, Wikipedia article text
Ex-Lithuanian FN 1930 rifles captured by the Soviets were even supplied post-war to the People's Liberation Army.
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Wikipedia: Type 44 carbine
Operates: Type 44 carbine, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Type 44 carbine, Wikipedia article text
After the war, the Type 44 continued to be used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Navy.
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Wikipedia: CM-102
Operates: CM-102, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: CM-102, Wikipedia article text
The CM-102 is an anti-radiation missile produced by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) for the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
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