Military branches:
People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes airborne forces), and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed Police (PAP); PLA Reserve Force (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with 24-month 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 (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 375,009,345 females age 16-49: 354,314,328 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 313,321,639 females age 16-49: 295,951,438 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 10,760,380 female: 9,710,032 (2008 est.)