People's Liberation Army

The armed forces of the People's Republic of China, founded in 1927 as the Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party. It is commanded by the Chinese Communist Party through the Central Military Commission.

Central Military Commission: The Chinese Communist Party and state body that directs the People's Liberation Army. It exercises top-level command over the PLA and sets its strategic priorities.
Nanchang uprising: An armed uprising by Communist forces against the Nationalist government in China on August 1, 1927. The uprising is commemorated as the PLA's founding event.
Taiwan Strait: The body of water separating Taiwan from mainland China. PLA exercises and contingency planning focus heavily on potential conflict across the strait.
People's Armed Police: A Chinese paramilitary force responsible for internal security, maritime law enforcement, and other public-security duties. It is distinct from the PLA, though both are under Communist Party leadership.
People's Liberation Army Ground Force: The land-warfare service of China's armed forces. It is the PLA's largest service and conducts land operations.
Chinese Civil War: The conflict between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang, ending with Communist victory on the mainland in 1949. The PLA emerged from this conflict as the military of the new People's Republic.
South China Sea: A marginal sea of the western Pacific contested by China and several Southeast Asian states. PLA forces support China's claims and military presence in this disputed maritime region.
Republic of China Armed Forces: The military forces of the Republic of China, based in Taiwan. They are the opposing armed forces across the Taiwan Strait.
People's Liberation Army Navy: The naval service of China's armed forces. It extends PLA operations into maritime regions and supports China's naval strategy.
Long March: A series of strategic retreats by Chinese Communist forces from 1934 to 1935. The retreat preserved Communist forces and helped shape the PLA's founding generation.

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