The Streamlining of the PLA﹝People`s Liberation Army﹞

Abstract

In April 1992 Peking announced that the People`s Liberation Army (PLA) would be cut by 300,000 men. The cut is part of the PLA`s fourth streamlining program since the late 1970s. The current framework of mainland China`s military and national defense systems was created by the second streamlining which began in 1980. It is not expected that the military regions will be abolished or reduced in number during the current streamlining as that would disrupt Teng Hsiao-p`ing`s succession arrangements and the PLA command system, and create problems with placing demobilized officers.