BEIJING: China today said it has slashed three lakh troops, reducing thesize of its 2.3-million People’s Liberation Armylink> (PLA) to justtwo-million-strong force, a move aimed at making the world’s largest army amightier force capable of winning modern wars.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made the announcement in his annual work reportto the National People’s Congress (NPC).
Li said the military had completed its goal of slashing three lakh troops,reducing the size of the 2.3 million PLA to just two-million-strong force.
The PLA Daily, official newspaper of the Chinese military, said non-battlepersonnel were downsized.
The troop cut was announced by President Xi Jinpinglink> in 2015.
The PLA which was 4.5-million strong till 1980 was first resized to threemillion in 1985 and later to 2.3 million.
PLA also announced last year that it would reduce its grounds troops toless than a million as part of Chinese military modernisation under whichthe navy has been given greater role to expand China’s global influence.
The troops cut also came in the backdrop of massive anti-corruption drivecarried out by Xi, who also heads the military, in which over 3,000personnel including over 50 top Generals were removed and punished.
“We will stick to Chinese path in strengthening our armed forces, advanceall aspects of military training, war preparedness, and firmly andresolvedly safeguard national sovereignty, security and developmentinterests,” Li said.
He also said the military should function strictly under the command theruling Communist Party and the Central Military Commissionlink>, (CMC)headed by Xi.