PLA expands international influence

World's largest military force has seen role in global governance grow substantially since its founding nine decades ago

Since 2002, the People's Liberation Army has taken part in many dangerous and arduous humanitarian and relief missions in countries such as Lebanon, Pakistan, Djibouti, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

In the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia, the PLA Navy has successfully performed its duties in protecting commercial vessels from pirates for nine years.