Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China/Appendix 1

TAIWAN STRAIT MILITARY BALANCE, GROUND FORCES
CHINA TAIWAN
Total Taiwan Strait Area[ground 1] Total
Total Ground Force Personnel 1,050,000 420,000 89,000
Group Armies/Army Corps 13 5 3
Combined Arms Brigades 82 31 (6 Amphibious) 7
Artillery Brigades 15 5 3
Army Aviation Brigades 13 4 2
Air Assault Brigades 3 1 0
Airborne Brigades 7 7 0
Marine Brigades 8 5 2
Tanks 4,200 1,100 900
Artillery Pieces[ground 2] 7,600 2,300 1300
  1. For the purposes of this document, the "Taiwan Strait Area" includes the PLA's Eastern and Southern Theaters.
  2. For the purpose of this document, "Artillery Pieces" refers to systems 100mm and larger, are either towed or self-propelled, and includes Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRLs)
TAIWAN STRAIT MILITARY BALANCE, AIR FORCES
CHINA TAIWAN
Total Eastern and Southern Theater Total
Fighters 1,900 (3,100[air 1]) 7500 (900[air 1]) 300 (400[air 1])
Bombers/Attack 500 300 0
Transport 500 40 50
Special Mission Aircraft 250 150 20
Note: This chart displays estimated totals of military aircraft from both PLAAF and PLAN aviation. However, the PLAAF may supplement its military transports with civilian aircraft in a combat scenario.
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 The totals in parentheses include fighter trainers.
TAIWAN STRAIT MILITARY BALANCE, NAVAL FORCES
CHINA TAIWAN
Total Eastern and Southern Theater
Command Navies
Total
Aircraft Carriers 2 1 0
Amphibious Assault Ships 3 3 0
Cruisers 8 4 0
Destroyers 42 30 4
Frigates 47 30 22
Corvettes 50 40 0
Medium Landing Ships/
Tank Landing Ships/Amphibious
Transport Dock
57 50 50
Attack Submarines 47 31 4
Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarines 6 2 0
Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile
Submarines
6 6 0
Coastal Patrol (Missile) 60 60 43
Coast Guard Ships 142 N/A 168
Note: The PLAN has the largest force of principal combatants, submarines, and amphibious warfare ships in Asia. In the event of a major Taiwan conflict, the Eastern and Southern Theater Command Navies would participate in direct action against the Taiwan Navy. The Northern Theater Navy (not shown) would be responsible primarily for protecting the sea approaches to China, but could provide mission-critical assets to support other fleets. In conflict, China may also employ CCG and CMM ships to support military operations.
CHINA'S ROCKET FORCE
System Launchers Missiles Estimated Range
ICBM 500 350 >5,500km
IRBM 250 500 3,000-5,500km
MRBM 300 1000 1,000-3,000km
SRBM 200 1000 300-1,000km
GLCM 150 300 >1,500km