Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged a reduction of 300,000 troops from China’s 2.3 million-member People’s Liberation Army, amid rising personnel costs and growing technological capabilities that reduce the need for large numbers of troops, the Associated Press reports.
The announcement Thursday at the start of a massive parade commemorating Japan’s World War II defeat 70 years ago brings the military’s headcount down to about 2 million.
Once known for its human wave tactics in conflicts such as the Korean War, the PLA is increasingly focused on high-tech weaponry and more focused missions.
As an example, the latest version of the PLA’s mainstay bomber, the H-6K, requires just a three-person crew, half its former complement.
