China Military Profile 2013

Military branches

People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Kongjun, PLAAF; includes Airborne Forces), and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed Police (PAP); PLA Reserve Force (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with a 2 year service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs; a recent military decision allows women in combat roles; the first class of women warship commanders was in training in 2011 (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 385,821,101
females age 16-49: 363,789,674 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 318,265,016
females age 16-49: 300,323,611 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 10,406,544
female: 9,131,990 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2006)