??? The People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police staged more than 200 exercises above division or brigade level in 2014,including 25 inter-regional base drills in three separate series from May to October, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense. From media reports, China Armed Forces has compiled figures revealing the features and trends of these exercises

?Military exercises at various levels held in 2013 and 2014

??? ?There were 479 exercises held in 2014 above regiment level, many more than above division or brigade level, according to the Ministry of National Defense. By scale and significance in rising order, these exercises could be subdivided into six categories: battalion; regiment; brigade; division; corps; military region; and Sino-foreign exercises. In 2013, 123 exercises were held.

Pie chart for participating military services in 2014

Pie chart for participating military services in 2013

??? Of the four services, the army was more active last year than in 2013, accounting for 65 percent of the total participants, possibly as a result of increased combat training. The navy, air force and Second Artillery also saw sharp rises in the numbers of participants, with rises much larger than that of the army.