The Reduction of One Million Troops
In the mid-1980s, as international tension eased, Deng Xiaoping drew the conclusion that peace and development were now the driving forces in international relations. This had great significance for China's economic development, and particularly its national defense and military commitments. In line with his instructions to reinforce defense and the military as required by China's national modernization, and to build powerful, modern and regularized armed forces, a series of major reforms were carried out in the army.
In June 1985, Deng announced at an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission a reduction of the PLA's troop numbers of one million. This involved streamlining the command bodies and the troops, phasing out outdated equipment, merging different army units, and cutting the number of officers to ensure a rational balance of officers and men. From the latter half of 1985 to 1987, the reduction went ahead, involving the command bodies, troops, military colleges and logistics units. By 1990, the PLA force had been streamlined to 3.2 million after a reduction of over 1 million troops. This reshuffle reinforced the armed forces' capacity to protect China's development and modernization in a time of peace. It showcased the confidence of the CPC and the Chinese government, and made a contribution to world peace.
百万大裁军
进入20世纪80年代中期，基于国际形势趋于缓和的新变化，邓小平作出了“和平与发展是当代世界的两大主题”的重要判断。这对中国经济建设，特别是对国防和军队建设具有重大意义。根据邓小平提出国防和军队建设要服从整个国家现代化建设大局的要求，以及建设一支强大的现代化、正规化革命军队的指导方针，军队建设进行了一系列重大改革。
1985年6月，邓小平在中央军委扩大会议上宣布，中国人民解放军将减少员额100万。此次裁军的重点是，精简机关、裁减部队、淘汰陈旧设备、加强部队合成、减少军官数量、改变军兵比例不合理状况。按照中央军委的决策部署，从1985年下半年开始，按照先机关，后部队、院校和保障单位的顺序，人民解放军自上而下地组织实施了百万大裁军。到1987年，中国人民解放军顺利完成了百万大裁军的任务。经过进一步裁减，到1990年，全军员额减少到319.9万人，总共裁军103.9万人。经过这次大裁军，军队的编制更加精干，战斗力进一步增强，逐步适应了和平时期建设和现代化条件下作战的需要。
百万大裁军，是中国共产党、中国政府和中国人民有力量、有信心的表现，是中国用实际行动为维护世界和平作出的重要贡献。
