China has decided to further cut its armed forces by 200,000 troops to 2.3 million by the year 2005, following a previous disarmament of 500,000 soldiers between 1996 and 2000.

　　The decision, made by the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, was announced yesterday in Changsha, Hunan Province, by CMC Chairman Jiang Zemin at a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Defense Science and Technology University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

　　"To shrink China's armed forces is not only in accordance with the global trend toward military reform but also out of the necessity of the national economic construction," said Jiang.

　　With the development of modern science and technology, especially information technology, global competition in military affairs has intensified, Jiang said, pointing out the current transformation from mechanized warfare to information warfare, with the information capabilities of the army playing an increasingly decisive role in conflicts.

　　"Further reducing the scale of the army will help us concentrate our limited strategic resources to quicken the pace of the information technology construction of our army," said Jiang.

　　The decision carries great significance in that it will promote construction of China's army, accelerate its modernization drive, stimulate national economic development and contribute to the peace and development of the whole world, said Jiang.

　　The total force of the PLA, including both active and reserve components, has been maintained below the 2.5 million-strong mark.

　　According to a white paper on China's national defense issued in December 2002, China has always been strict in its control, management and supervision of defense spending, and has formed a complete system of relevant laws and regulations.