From military guy:
“…the Chinese are looking at a cut that is more people than we have on active duty in the Army right now. Yet it’s only a 20% cut.
Another interesting bit – based on the comments about establishing reserve units, the Chinese currently have none.
This represents several things.
1. They have compared themselves to us, and don’t like the results of that comparison.
2. They are seriously rethinking what they want to do with their military – and are clearing the decks for action. To make it leaner, lighter, agile – which means easier to project.
3. Even with the cut, their Army (just army) is still 1.85 million troops. If they modernize only a third of that – that’s more troops than we have, and one hell of an occupying force left over, should they need it.
Cheers,