Sakhalin, North Pacific

The PLAGF (People’s Liberation Army Ground Force) is the land warfare branch of the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China and is the largest component of the People’s Liberation Army. It is responsible for defending China’s territorial integrity, maintaining internal stability when required, and conducting land-based military operations. Originally founded in 1927 as the Chinese Red Army, the force evolved through the Chinese Civil War and was formally reorganized after the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949. For decades, it was structured around large infantry formations designed for mass mobilization and territorial defense. In recent years, however, the PLAGF has undergone major modernization reforms, shifting toward a more professional, technologically advanced, and highly mobile force. Today, the PLAGF emphasizes combined-arms operations, integrating infantry, armored units, artillery, air defense, army aviation, electronic warfare, and special operations fo