Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Business and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
Powerful, well-trained, well-disciplined, well-organized, fast, and motivated armed forces are very important for a country’s integrity, defense, and security. China is a global leader in the peace movement and does not have a history of aggression, or colonial design rather it believes in investment, trade, cooperation, and resource sharing. Some countries still do not like countries like China to remain peaceful therefore China needs to have a strong army for deterrent and self-defense.
July 18, 2024, was a historical day when China’s People’s Liberation Army’s 97th anniversary was celebrated in many parts of the world including Pakistan and there was a very special event in Rawalpindi where Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan General Hafiz Syed Asim Munir, along with nearly a hundred senior officers, hosted a special event to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the founding of the people’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China. Chinese Ambassador His Excellency Jiang Zaidong, Major General Wang Zheng, Defence Minister, Attache, and other Chinese diplomats were also present on the occasion. Ambassador China His Excellency Mr. Jian Zaidong expressed sincere thanks to General Hafiz Syed Asim Munir for hosting the celebration event. He said that under the dynamic and able leadership of President Xi Jinping, China is strengthening it military and introducing many reforms and the PLA is going under revolutionary reforms. It is being equipped with strategic excellence in training and state-of-the-art technology and being provided a strategic guarantee for comprehensively advancing Chinese modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He further said that China is willing to continuously deepen military cooperation with Pakistan and jointly build a closer Pakistan-China community with a shared future.
General Hafiz Syed Asim Munir, congratulated the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and commended its contribution to the defence, security and national development of China. He further added that “Pakistan-China relations are exceptional and have all weathered the vicissitudes of the strategic environment with mutual trust and unwavering belief in each other’s support. He also said “ Relations between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army are strong. Demonstrating the iron-clad brotherhood between the two countries”.
Chinese Ambassador His Excellency Mr. Jiang Zaidong expressed gratitude to the army chief for hosting this unique event and said, “ The Pakistani military has always been at the forefront of countering terrorism and has made great sacrifices for the peace and stability of Pakistan and the region, “ remarked the ambassador. He further states, “ We stand ready to work with our brethren to combat terrorism and firmly believe that no force can destroy the iron-clad friendship between China and Pakistan and the brotherhood between the two militaries.
The People’s: Liberation Army (PLA) is the military of the People’s Republic of China and consists of four services Ground Force, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Rocket Force, and four arms, the Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, Information Support Force and Joint Logistic Support Force. It is led by the Central Military Commission (CMC) with its chairman as Commander-in-chief.
People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the world’s largest military force and has the second-highest defense budget in the world. China’s military budget in 2023 was US$ 296 billion which was 12% of the total global defence budget. It is also one of the fastest-modernizing militaries in the world and has been termed as a potential military superpower. It has proved its efficiency and capability in the war with India China war 1967 and the recent clash with the Indian army along the Chinese border.
In addition to wartime arrangements, the PLA is also involved in the peacetime operations of other components of the armed forces. Following is the mission of PLA:
- The protection of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, internal security, and national development of Chiba.
- Safeguarding the country’s interests
- Maintaining and safeguarding world peace
The People’s Liberation Army Ground Force(PLAGF) is the land-based service branch of the People’s Liberation Army ( PLA) and also its largest and oldest branch which was formed in 1927.
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force also referred as to the Chinese Air Force is an aerial service branch of the People’s Liberation Army. The Air Force is composed of five subbranches, aviation, ground-based air defense, radar, Airborne Corps, and other support elements.
The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force formally Second Artillery Corps is the strategic and tactical missile force of the People’s Liberation Army. The PLARF is the 4th branch of the PLA and controls China’s arsenal of land-based ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles both nuclear and conventional.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy also known as the People’s Navy is the naval warfare branch of the People’s Liberation Army. It is composed of five sub-branches, The surface force, the Submarine Force, the coastal defense force, the Marine Corps, and the Naval Air Force with a strength of 252,000 personnel including 35,000 marines and 18,000 naval aviation personnel.
The People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistics Support Force is the rear echelon and logistics arm of the People’s Liberation Army.[1] It was established on 13 September 2016[2][3] and was recognized as an arm of the People’s Liberation Army on 19 April 2024, with a Theater Deputy grad
he People’s Liberation Army Information Support Force is an arm of the People’s Liberation Army. This unit provides support for coordinating the construction and application of network information systems.[1][2] It was established on 19 April 2024.
he People’s Liberation Army Cyberspace Force is an arm of the People’s Liberation Army. It was established on 19 April 2024.[1]
he People’s Liberation Army Cyberspace Force is an arm of the People’s Liberation Army. It was established on 19 April 2024.[1]
