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PLA’s early force struggled with training and equipment shortages

The account says early troops relied on outdated weapons, lacked artillery, and later were overwhelmed by bandits after running out of food and munitions.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Asia

The South China Morning Post looks at the People’s Liberation Army’s strategic evolution ahead of its 99th anniversary on August 1, noting the shift from guerrilla warfare to hi-tech conflict.

According to accounts cited by the outlet, soldiers in the early period faced limited training and a patchwork of mostly outdated bolt-action rifles, with only a few machine guns and no artillery.

The reporting describes persistent logistical problems, including shortages of clothing and footwear, food, and ammunition, and says equipment and supply difficulties remained, even worsening over time.

It also recounts that troops, exhausted and out of food and munitions, were overwhelmed by local bandits and forced to disperse, reflecting the early force’s operational constraints.

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