Beijing
China announced this week that it would cut 200,000 troops from its army as part of a push to create a modern force that could better rival the U.S. military. China’s military chief, former president Jiang Zemin, called for a “revolution in military affairs,” the same phrase the Pentagon uses to describe its own modernization program. “The state of war is being transformed,” Jiang said, “from mechanized warfare to information warfare.” He said the money saved on troops would be spent on new weapons and communications equipment. The personnel cut will reduce China’s armed forces to 2.3 million men—still the world’s largest standing army.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Saudi Arabia could become an AI focal pointUnder the Radar A state-backed AI project hopes to rival China and the United States
-
What you need to know about last-minute travelThe Week Recommends You can book an awesome trip with a moment’s notice
-
Codeword: October 29, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
