China reveals structure of its military units

PanARMENIAN.Net - China has revealed the structure of its military units, in what state-run media describe as a first, BBC News reported.

The army has a total of 850,000 officers, while the navy and air force have a strength of 235,000 and 398,000, China said in its defense white paper.

The paper also criticized the U.S.'s expanded military presence in the Asia Pacific, saying it had exacerbated regional tensions.

China's defense budget rose by 11.2% in 2012, exceeding $100bn.

The defense white paper, which state media describe as China's 8th since 1998, emphasized China's "unshakable national commitment... to take the road of peaceful development".

However, it highlighted "multiple and complicated security threats" facing China, and China's need to protect its "national unification, territorial integrity and development interests".

The white paper reveals details of China's military structure. According to state-run news agency Xinhua, this is the first time such information has been disclosed publicly.

The territorial army has 18 combined corps in seven military area commands: Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Lanzhou, and Jinan.

The air force has 398,000 officers and an air command in the same seven military areas, while the navy commands three fleets: the Beihai Fleet, the Donghai Fleet and the Nanhai Fleet, the paper said.

The white paper also addresses "issues concerning China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights", criticizing Japan for "making trouble over the issue of the Diaoyu Islands".

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are controlled by Japan but claimed by both China and Taiwan.