ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS
Military Power of the People's Republic of China
2007
Military Power of the People's Republic of China
2007
APPENDIX
China and Taiwan Forces Data
China and Taiwan Forces Data
Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Ground Forces | |||
---|---|---|---|
China | Taiwan | ||
Total | Taiwan Strait Area | Total | |
Personnel (Active) | 1.4 million | 400,000 | 130,000 |
Group Armies | 18 | 8 | 3 |
Infantry Divisions | 25 | 9 | 0 |
Infantry Brigades | 33 | 12 | 13 |
Armor Divisions/Brigades | 9 | 4 | 0 |
Armor Brigades | 11 | 4 | 5 |
Artillery Divisions | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Artillery Brigades | 15 | 5 | 3+ |
Marine Brigades | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Tanks | 7,000 | 2,700 | 1,800 |
Artillery Pieces | 11,000 | 3,200 | 3,200 |
Note: The PLA active ground forces are organized into Group Armies. Infantry, armor, and artillery units are organized into a combination of divisions and brigades deployed throughout the PLA's seven Military Regions (MRs). A significant portion of these assets are deployed in the Taiwan Strait area, specifically the Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Jinan military regions. Figures for the Taiwan Strait area do not include the 15th Airborne Corps and garrison units. In 2004, Taiwan began transforming motorized rifle and armored infantry brigades to mechanized infantry. Taiwan has seven Defense Commands, three of which have Group Armies. Each Army contains an Artillery Command roughly equivalent to a brigade plus. |
Figure 8. Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Ground Forces
Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Air Forces | |||
---|---|---|---|
China | Taiwan | ||
Aircraft | Total | Within range of Taiwan | Total |
Fighters | 1,550 | 425 | 330 |
Bombers | 775 | 275 | 0 |
Transport | 450 | 75 | 40 |
Note: The PLAAF and PLA Navy have a total of around 2,325 operational combat aircraft: air defense and multi-role fighters, ground attack aircraft, fighter-bombers, and bombers. An additional 470 older fighters and bombers are assigned to PLA flight academies or R&D. The two air arms also possess approximately 450 transports and over 90 surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft with photographic, surface search, and airborne early warning sensors. The majority of PLAAF and PLA Navy aircraft are based in the eastern part of the country. Currently, more than 700 aircraft could conduct combat operations against Taiwan without refueling. |
Figure 10. Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Air Forces
Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Naval Forces | |||
---|---|---|---|
China | Taiwan | ||
Total | East and South Sea Fleets | Total | |
Destroyers | 25 | 16 | 4 |
Frigates | 47 | 22 | 22 |
Tank Landing Ships | 25 | 40 | 12 |
Medium Landing Ships | 25 | 20 | 4 |
Diesel Submarines | 53 | 28 | 4 |
Nuclear Submarines | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Coastal Patrol (Missile) | 41 | 34 | 50 |
Note: The PLA Navy has a large fleet that includes 72 principal combatants, 58 submarines, some 50 medium and heavy amphibious lift ships, and about 41 coastal missile patrol craft. In the event of a major Taiwan conflict, the East and South Sea Fleets would be expected to participate in direct action against the Taiwan Navy. The North Sea Fleet would be responsible primarily for protecting Beijing and the northern coasts, but could provide mission critical assets to support the other fleets. Taiwan completed delivery of four KIDD-class DDGs in 2006. |
Figure 12. Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Naval Forces
China's Missile Forces | |||
---|---|---|---|
China's Missile Inventory | Launchers/Missiles | Estimated Range | |
CSS-4 ICBM | 20/20 | 12,900+ km | |
CSS-3 ICBM | 9-13/16-24 | 5,470+ km | |
CSS-2 IRBM | 6-10/14-18 | 2,790+ km | |
CSS-5 MRBM Mod 1/2 | 34-38/40-50 | 1,770+ km | |
JL-1 SLBM | 10-14/10-14 | 1,770+ km | |
CSS-6 SRBM | 70-80/300-350 | 600 km | |
CSS-7 SRBM | 110-130/575-625 | 300 km | |
JL-2 SLBM | DEVELOPMENTAL | 8,000+ km | |
DF-31 ICBM | INITIAL THREAT AVAILABILITY |
7,250+ km | |
DF-31A ICBM | DEVELOPMENTAL | 11,270+ km | |
Note: China's SRBM force has grown significantly in the past few years. China's Second Artillery maintains at least five operational SRBM brigades; another brigade is deployed with the PLA ground forces garrisoned in the Nanjing Military Region and a second brigade is forming in the Guangzhou Military Region. All of these units are deployed to locations near Taiwan. |
Figure 14. China's Missile Forces
China's Space Assets | |
---|---|
Inventory | Total |
Communications Satellites | 14 |
Navigation Satellites | 3 |
Meteorological Satellites | 3 |
Remote Sensing/Imagery Satellites | 6 |
Scientific Satellites | 8 |
Manned Space System | 1 |
Total | 35 |
Note: China seeks to become a world leader in space development and maintain a leading role in space launch activity. Beijing's goal is to place a satellite into orbit "within hours upon request." With increasingly capable satellites, China is becoming competitive in some markets, but is not yet among the world's technological leaders. |
Figure 15. China's Space Assets
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