The PLA at 99: How China's Military Evolved from Ragtag Rifles to World-Class Force

As the People's Liberation Army (PLA) approaches its 99th anniversary on August 1, and with one year remaining to meet its centenary goals, its transformation underscores the past, present, and future of China's military strategy. This article examines the PLA's development from its roots in guerrilla warfare to its current standing as a high-tech, world-class force.

In April 1932, an 18-year-old Xi Zhongxun led the newly formed Fifth Detachment of the Red Army's Shaanxi-Gansu Guerrilla Force. Reorganized from a mutinous battalion of the local warlord's Northwest Army, this unit of 200 soldiers struggled with basic necessities. According to historical accounts, they lacked adequate training and were equipped with a mix of outdated bolt-action rifles and a few machine guns, with no artillery support.

Despite the Communist Party's efforts to instill discipline and morale through political work, the troops faced persistent and worsening shortages of clothing, footwear, food, and ammunition. These logistical difficulties ultimately proved insurmountable. Exhausted and depleted of supplies, the unit was overwhelmed by local bandits and forced to disperse.

More than eight decades later, Xi Jinping, Xi Zhongxun's son, assumed command of the PLA. He has since pledged to transform the military into a "world-class military" by the middle of this century, reflecting a dramatic shift from the struggles of its early days.