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Early China PLA troops faced shortages and were overwhelmed
The article traces how initial gaps in training, equipment, and logistics left PLA soldiers unable to sustain operations and ultimately pushed them to disperse.
The People’s Liberation Army will mark its 99th anniversary on August 1, one year before the deadline for its centenary goals, and an SCMP Economy analysis looks at how the PLA’s strategy evolved over time.
According to accounts cited by the outlet, early PLA soldiers lacked training and were issued a patchwork of largely outdated weapons, including bolt-action rifles and a few machine guns, but no artillery.
The report also says chronic shortages hit basic logistics, including clothing and footwear, food, and ammunition, even as Communist Party political work supported discipline and morale.
It adds that the combination of equipment and logistical difficulties left troops exhausted and short of munitions, after which they were overwhelmed by local bandits and forced to disperse.