China discloses its military structure for first time

The white paper released yesterday by China’s Ministry of National Defense sheds light on the country’s military structure, the first time such information has been published, mass media are reporting.

The Chinese army comprises 850,000 soldiers in total, including 235,000 in the navy and 398,000 in the air force.

According to the paper, the territorial army has 18 combined corps in seven military area commands: Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Lanzhou, and Jinan. China’s second artillery force contains nuclear and conventional missile forces, the paper notes.

China’s defence budget exceeds $100 bn, up by 11,2% from last year, the paper also reveals.

This is the 8th defence white paper China has issued since 1998.

The document particularly emphasizes China’s "unshakable national commitment... to take the road of peaceful development".
Correspondents say release of such information is possibly an effort of the Chinese military to be more transparent.
The paper also criticizes US’s expanded military presence in the region, which “makes the situation there tenser”.