The emasculation of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) continues with news the Communist Party of China (CPC) has decided to slash the number of men in the PLAGF reserve force while increasing reserves for all the other armed services comprising the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of the CPC.

Like Us on Facebook

Chinese state-run media said the news was confirmed by Gen. Sheng Bin, Director of the National Defense Mobilization Department of China's Central Military Commission (CMC).

Gen. Sheng said while PLAGF reserves will be reduced, reserves for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN); the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) will be increased in a bid to keep up with China's military buildup as military reform make continuing progress.

He also announced reserve forces for all the armed services will be reoriented towards information warfare instead of focusing on traditional combat-oriented and mechanized roles.

New CMC guidelines also establish a new structure in which CMC will take charge of the overall administration of the PLA; the People's Armed Police (PAP); the militia and reserve forces. Battle zone commands will focus on combat preparedness while various military services will pursue development projects.

China last year announced a cut of 300,000 troops by the end of 2017 to build a more elite and efficient military.

Major General Chen Zhou, who heads the Research Center for Defense Policies at the PLA Academy of Military Science, said many officers will retire and will be assigned to new positions in this round of military reform.

China will step up efforts on the national level to help retired servicemen resettle to civilian life by adopting a series of laws and regulations, said Gen. Chen. China lacks the detailed laws or regulations to assist servicemen and servicewomen after they retire from military service.

TagsPeople's Liberation Army Ground Force, PLAGF, reserve force, Gen. Sheng Bin, Central Military Commission, Major General Chen Zhou