People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces

People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces
中国人民解放军特种部队
Active	1988 – present
Country	People's Republic of China
Allegiance	Chinese Communist Party
Branch	Ground Force  Navy  Air Force Rocket Force
Type	Special forces
Part of	People's Liberation Army
March	《特种部队之歌》 ("Anthem of the Special Forces")
Engagements	Sino-vietnamese war Anti-piracy measures in Somalia
Insignia
Sleeve badge

People's Liberation Army
Executive departments
Central Military Commission Ministry of National Defense
Staff
Chairman of the CMC Joint Staff Department of the CMC Political Work Department of the CMC Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CMC
Services
Ground Force  Navy  Air Force Rocket Force
Arms
Aerospace Force Cyberspace Force Information Support Force Joint Logistics Support Force
Domestic troops
People's Armed Police China Coast Guard Militia Maritime Militia
Special operations force
PLA Special Operations Forces Special Police Unit of the PAP Snow Leopard Commando Unit Mountain Eagle Commando Unit
Military districts
Eastern Theater Command Southern Theater Command Western Theater Command Northern Theater Command Central Theater Command
History of the Chinese military
Military history of China
Military ranks of China
Ranks of the PLA Ground Force Ranks of the PLA Navy Ranks of the PLA Air Force
v t e

In the People's Republic of China, the special operations forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA SOF) are units that conduct direct action and reconnaissance, including in enemy rear areas, to prepare the advance of friendly forces; they also perform counter-terrorism operations, although that mission is formally assigned to People's Armed Police. PLA SOF does not control, but may support, psychological warfare operations.^[1]

Each theater command controls their own SOF units. The units rely on external support to conduct missions.^[2] Most ground SOF are organized like conventional light infantry units.^[3] In 2022, many units were recently converted from conventional forces and likely had capabilities closer to shock troops than special forces.^[4]

In 2022, the PLA SOF consisted of 15 Ground Force (PLAGF) brigades, one Marine Corps (PLANMC) brigade, one Airborne Corps (PLAAFAC) brigade, and the Rocket Force (PLARF) Reconnaissance Regiment.^[5]