On August 1, 1927, the army of the Communist Party is founded. It is called “Red Army of Workers and Peasants of the Chinese Communist Party” and is formed to fight against the government of the GMD. While the army drew its soldiers from peasants and laborers, few possessed the ideal political purity of perfect class background (poor peasant, worker, etc.) and a flawless record of selfless service. This held true for both the CCP and the PLA, which, particularly during the civil war, couldn't afford overly stringent recruitment standards. Excluding everyone without a poor peasant or proletarian background was impractical, especially given the frequent defections of entire Nationalist units. Consequently, the PLA that emerged victorious in 1949 was a diverse mix of individuals from various class and social origins, as were its veteran ranks.
At the Gutian conference in December 1929, Mao Zedong pointed out the mistaken ideas of the PLA and the methods for correction. The biggest mistake is the purely military viewpoint, which regards military affairs and politics as opposed to each other. This leads to denial of the fact that military affairs are only one means of accomplishing political tasks.
From then onwards, the PLA has several tasks, including economic, political, and social. This in addition to its military function. The army's duty is to protect the nation, the CCP, Communism, and the nation's and party's leaders. Revolutionary-era military elites typically also served as party elites, giving them direct involvement in policy decisions and implementation. China's military philosophy, as expressed by PLA and CCP leaders, blends ancient traditions with modern political ideology. The PLA draws strategic and operational insights from classic military thinkers like Sun Tzu and narratives found in martial novels such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin. Alongside this, the PLA's structure and values are profoundly shaped by Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. Key principles derived from Mao include the Party's absolute control over the military, the mobilization of the populace for revolutionary goals, a system of limited public participation in decision-making, and a belief in the power of human willpower to overcome material limitations. The foundation for many early Communist military leaders' understanding of Leninist principles was laid at the Whampoa Military Academy in the 1920s.
Between 1949 and 1954, the PLA was transitioning from a revolutionary force to a formal military structure under the newly established PRC. During this period, there was no formal conscription system, but the military relied on voluntary enlistment, local recruitment, and selective mobilization.
Other classical military works are: Wuzi (Wuzi; 武子) 4th c BC; Sima Fa (Simafa; 司马法) 4th c BC; Wei Liaozi (Weiliaozi; 尉缭子) 4th–3rd c BC;
Tai Gong’s Six Secret Teachings 4th–3rd c BC (Tai Gong liutao; 太公六韬); Three Strategies of Huang Shigong 2nd–1st c BC (Huang Shigong sanlüe; 黄石公三略); and
Questions and Replies between 7th c AD Tang Taizong and Li Weigong (Tang Taizong Li Weigong wendui; 唐太宗李卫公问对) [↩][Cite]
