Military branches:
People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Kongjun, PLAAF; includes Airborne Forces), and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed Police (PAP); PLA Reserve Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-24 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with a 2 year service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs; a recent military decision allows women in combat roles; the first class of women warship commanders was in training in 2011 (2011)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 385,821,101
[see also: Manpower available for military service - male country ranks ]
females age 16-49: 363,789,674 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower available for military service - female country ranks ]
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 318,265,016
[see also: Manpower fit for military service - male country ranks ]
females age 16-49: 300,323,611 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower fit for military service - female country ranks ]
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 10,406,544
[see also: Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually - male country ranks ]
female: 9,131,990 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually - female country ranks ]
Military expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 21
[see also: Military expenditures country ranks ]