China’s navy expands marine corps into own unit ‘to defend maritime interests’
- State broadcaster confirms the move without revealing size of the new unit, which will remain part of PLA Navy
- Military observers say it’s a response to the growing need for amphibious operations amid rising tensions over the South China Sea and Taiwan
China’s navy has significantly expanded its marine corps, which is now operating in its own unit, according to the state broadcaster, though it did not reveal the size.
“The marine corps has been expanded and upgraded to a unit of its own,” the report on CCTV said.
But unlike the US Marine Corps, which operates in parallel to the army, navy and air force, the Chinese unit will remain part of the navy.
“The amphibious combat force has made progress and it is now taking a more comprehensive approach to development,” the report last week said. “This transformation has optimised the navy structure and the distribution of its functions.”
Earlier this year, a US-based think tank, the Jamestown Foundation, estimated that the Chinese military would expand its marine corps from two brigades to eight, with a total of about 40,000 troops.
In a post on its official Weibo account earlier this month, the PLA Navy referred to the marines corps as one of its “five kids”. “The eldest are submarines, second surface vessels, third air wings, fourth marines, and fifth coastal defence,” the post read.
It also posted a promotional video calling the Chinese marines “tigers on the land, dragons in the sea, and eagles in the air”.
US, China ‘at greater risk of military incidents’ in South China Sea
Military observers said the new unit was a response to China’s rapidly growing need for amphibious operations.
“This expansion and upgrade has been part of the broader military overhaul taking place in recent years,” said Li Jie, a naval expert based in Beijing.
“It has nothing to do with the American structure but has grown out of the military’s own needs. There are more and more maritime interests to defend, especially islands and reefs.”
Li said a much stronger amphibious combat force was needed given rising tensions over the South China Sea, and Beijing’s goal for reunification with Taiwan – to be achieved by force if necessary.
Expanding and upgrading the marine corps also meant better equipment, more specialised exercises and systematic collaboration with other parts of the navy, he said.
Song Zhongping, a military commentator in Hong Kong, said as China sought to build up a blue-water navy that can operate globally, new missions would emerge – such as security, counterterrorism and evacuation of Chinese nationals overseas – and they would fall to the marine corps.
“Like in the blockbuster films, the special combat force – like the Jiaolong team that evacuates civilians and rescue hostages – will be members of the marine corps,” Song said, referring to the Chinese film Operation Red Sea released last year.
Apart from amphibious operations, the US Marine Corps carries out expeditionary warfare, so it has as many as 200,000 personnel and can respond quickly to a direct command from the US president.
But according to Li, the Chinese military has no plan for such warfare, so its marine corps is much smaller and will remain part of the navy.
“I don’t see Chinese marines operating independently overseas like the US Marine Corps,” Li said.
China’s marine corps was first established in 1953 and its divisions now include amphibious infantry, armoured troops, artillery troops, air defence, engineering, scouts and special combat troops.
