China announces three new military academies as part of PLA modernisation drive
China is establishing three new military academies, as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) pushes hard for modernisation.
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According to the Ministry of Defence, the new institutions are the PLA Ground Force Service Academy in Hefei, Anhui province; the PLA Information Support Force Engineering University in Wuhan, Hubei province; and the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force Engineering University in Chongqing.
These academies will open recruitment for high school graduate applicants, with admission programmes and student enrolment to be announced in follow-up notices, ministry spokesman Jiang Bin said on Thursday.
Jiang said that the initiative was taken to 'adapt to the needs of restructuring military services and the military talent training'.
The new institutes will provide the PLA's new service branches, the Information Support Force (ISF) and Joint Logistics Support Force (JLSF), distinct channels to directly recruit high school graduates, strengthen their talent pool and train personnel to their needs.
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Since 2016, the PLA has been undergoing a structural overhaul, to reshape the Chinese military build-up and improve its proficiencies to fit modern and hi-tech warfare by 2027, as they work towards achieving a 'world-class' military by 2049.
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