[custom_adv] The Chinese People's Liberation Army is the armed forces of the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. 1 August is celebrated annually as Army Day, commemorating the Nanchang Uprising on 1 August 1927. [custom_adv] The PLA consists of five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force and the Strategic Support Force. The PLA is the world's largest military force, with a strength of approximately 2,285,000 personnel, 0.18% of the country's population. [custom_adv] In September 2015, Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and the commander-in-chief of the PLA, announced a reduction of the number of military personnel by 300,000. [custom_adv] The PLA's insignia consists of a roundel with a red star bearing the Chinese characters for Eight One, referring to the Nanchang Uprising which began on August 1, 1927. [custom_adv] The PLA is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the CPC. Following the principle of civilian control of the military, the commander in chief is the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. [custom_adv] The Ministry of National Defense, which operates under the State Council, does not exercise any authority over the PLA and is far less powerful than the CMC. [custom_adv] A system of political officers embedded within the military ensures party authority over the armed forces so that the primary role of the Ministry of Defense is that of a liaison office with foreign militaries rather than a commanding authority. [custom_adv] The political and military leadership have made a concerted effort to create a professional military force, the duties of which are restricted to national defence and to the provision of assistance in domestic economic construction and emergency relief. [custom_adv] This conception of the role of the PLA requires the promotion of specialised officers who can understand modern weaponry and handle combined arms operations. [custom_adv] Units around the country are assigned to one of five military theaters and more than 20 military districts by geographical location. [custom_adv] Military service is compulsory by law; however, compulsory military service in China has never been enforced due to large numbers of volunteers from China's population. [custom_adv] In times of national emergency, the People's Armed Police and the People's Liberation Army Militia act as a reserve and support element for the PLA, primarily for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. [custom_adv] For the past 10 to 20 years, the PLA has acquired some advanced weapons systems from Russia, including Sovremenny class destroyers, Sukhoi Su-27 and Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft, and Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines. [custom_adv] It has also completed several new destroyers and frigates including 2 AAW Type 052C class guided missile destroyers. In addition, the PLAAF has designed its very own Chengdu J-10 fighter aircraft. [custom_adv] The PLA launched the new Jin class nuclear submarines on 3 December 2004 capable of launching nuclear warheads that could strike targets across the Pacific Ocean. [custom_adv] In 2015, the PLA formed new units including the PLA Army’s leading organ, the PLA Rocket Force and the PLA Strategic Support Force.