People's Liberation Army

1. See under Huk (def. 1).

2. the name of the armed forces of the People's Republic of China.

3. a rebel army or army of liberation in any of various other countries.

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Unified organization of China's land, sea, and air forces.

With more than 2,000,000 troops, it is the largest military force of any country in the world. The People's Liberation Army traces its roots to the 1927 Nanchang Uprising of the communists against the Nationalists. Initially called the Red Army, it grew under Zhu De from 5,000 troops in 1929 to 200,000 in 1933. Only a fraction of this force survived the Long March in retreat from the Nationalists. After rebuilding its strength, a large portion of it, the Eighth Route Army, fought with the Nationalists against the Japanese in northern China. After World War II the communist forces, renamed the People's Liberation Army, defeated the Nationalists, making possible the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949. See also Lin Biao; Mao Zedong.

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