People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps

That year it was given the status of a branch headquarters within the People's Liberation Army Navy and began expansion.

[6] The present PLANMC was originally established in April 1953[7] to conduct amphibious operations against islands held by the Republic of China (Taiwan).

However, the organization was disbanded in October 1957 when the leadership of China abandoned any plans to seize the island of Taiwan.

In July 1998, the 164th Motorized Infantry Division of the PLA Ground Force's (PLAGF) 41st Group Army had been transferred to the PLAN South Sea Fleet and became the 164th Marine Brigade, with its homebase in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province.

The PLANMC participated in multiple international exercises, including participation in RIMPAC, and engaged with United States Marine Corps in mutual training and friendly cultural exchanges during the Bush and Obama administrations as part of its "tranquility and good order" policy according to its navy chief.

[12] These brigades possess combined arms units, including armor, artillery, missile, air defense, and logistics.

Based on the Soviet BMP-1, it is armed with a single 73mm main gun and mounts an HJ73 ATGM (with max range of 3000 meters).

For air defense, Chinese marines employ a mix of automatic and manually operated anti-aircraft artillery systems, as well as short range surface-to-air missiles.

The founding of the PLANMC in 1953.
An amphibious landing exercise by marines in 1962.
PLA marines based in Zhanjiang stand at attention during a visit by a U.S. admiral in 2006.
PLAN marines of the 1st Marine Brigade and U.S. Marines fire the Type 95 Assault Rifle during an exchange exercise in 2006.
A PLAN marine fighting through a combat obstacle course at a naval base as part of marine capability demonstrations, 2006.
PLAN sailors and marines with U.S. sailors during RIMPAC 2016.
A PLAN marine with a boarding team assigned to the guided missile destroyer Haikou during a maritime operations exercise in RIMPAC 2014.