ABSTRACT
The military organization was—theoretically at least—an integral part of the state system once the constitution of 1954 was in force. The Ministry of National Defense had under its authority the General Staff, the General Logistics Department, and the General Political Department; these in turn were at the head of various commands and service arms. The air force and the navy were part of the People's Liberation Army. In 1955, they were almost entirely dependent on the Russians for their equipment and technology. The air force had between 2,300 and 3,000 aircraft: between 1,600 and 1,900 fighters, from 300 to 400 IL 18 bombers, and out-of-date transport or training aircraft. The general characteristics of the conventional armed forces changed little until 1966. Technical levels and the quality of equipment declined as a result of the combined effect of the misfortunes of the Great Leap Forward and the end of Sino-Soviet military and technical cooperation after 1960.
