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China to cut troops by 300,000: President Xi

Xinhua, September 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

China will cut the number of its troops by 300,000, President Xi Jinping announced Thursday.

Formations parade in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Sep. 3, 2015. [Photo by Zheng Liang/China.org.cn] 

It will be the country's fourth cut of troops since the reform and opening-up in the 1980s.

Xi revealed the information while delivering a speech at a gathering to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

In 1985, the country decided to cut off one million troops in an effort to focus on accelerating economic development and strengthening the quality of the troops.

In 1987, the total troops of the People's Liberation Army reduced to a total of 3.235 million from 4.238 million. By 1990, the number of troops lowered to 3.199 million, with a total cut of 1.039 million.

In 1997, China decided to further shrink its troops by 500,000 within three years, reducing the total to 2.5 million.

Between 2003 and 2005, a third-time cut of 200,000 downsized the troops to 2.3 million, with the army taking up the least proportion in the country's history.