Changes to Size, Structure, and Force Composition
Changing the size, structure, and force composition of the military is a key step in building a modern military that serves China's needs. Adjustments to the existing organizational structure include developing new types of forces, rebalancing the services, and reducing the total number of personnel, with a focus on improving quality and effectiveness and a transition from a personnel-intensive force to a technology-intensive one.
These changes have resulted in a reduction of 300,000 personnel, bringing the total headcount to two million. The deployment of combat forces has been adjusted in response to new strategic imperatives for defending national security.
As a result of the organizational reconfiguration, the original 18 army groups have been consolidated into 13, each with an army-brigade-battalion structure. Further changes aim to make the force composition complete, combined, multi-functional and flexible.
Reform also covers military educational and research institutions, resulting in the consolidation of 77 colleges operated by the PLA and the PAP into 44, and the reorganization of the National Defense University (NDU) and the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT). Other changes include the establishment of a CMC Military Research Steering Committee and the reorganization of the Academy of Military Science (AMS) and research institutes of various services. The military research network has been strengthened, comprising the AMS as the lead, the research institutes of the services and arms as the main forces, and the research components in educational institutions and the troops as supplements.
军队规模结构和力量编成改革
规模结构和力量编成改革是推进军队组织形态现代化、构建中国特色现代军事力量体系的关键一步。按照调整优化结构、发展新型力量、理顺重大比例关系、压减数量规模的要求，推动军队由数量规模型向质量效能型、人力密集型向科技密集型转变。
调整军队规模比例，重塑力量结构布局。裁减军队员额30万，现役总员额减至200万。调整作战力量部署，形成与维护新时代国家安全需要相适应的战略布局。
调整作战部队编成，重构新型作战力量。陆军原18个集团军整合重组为13个集团军。在全军主要作战部队实行“军—旅—营”体制，推动部队编成向充实、合成、多能、灵活方向发展。
优化院校力量布局，重构军事科研体系。解放军和武警部队原有77所院校整合为44所，重塑国防大学、国防科技大学。成立军委军事科学研究指导委员会，调整组建新的军事科学院、军种研究院，形成以军事科学院为龙头、军兵种科研机构为骨干、院校和部队科研力量为辅助的军事科研力量布局。