
PLA Modernizing Amphibious Combined Arms
Brigades for Joint Island Landing Campaign
N. Luke Roth, TRADOC Military Analyst
The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) ability to successfully conduct a joint island landing campaign
(JILC) relies on its amphibious combined arms brigades (ACABs), China’s primary assault force, which
are undergoing rapid modernization to address operational challenges. These units are designed to
The changes the PLA has made in its ACABs since 2017 strongly suggest they are meant to serve as
the primary landing force in a JILC.
1
3
Figure 1: PLA ACAB Headquarters locations
(Source: TRADOC G-2)
Fujian
Anhui
Guangdong
Hubei
Hunan
Jiangxi
Shanghai
Zhejiang
5
th
ACAB
124
th
ACAB
125
th
ACAB
14
th
ACAB
91
st
ACAB
1
st
ACAB
People’s Republic of China
Amphibious Combined-Arms Brigades (ACABs)
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Red Diamond
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22 JULY 2025
U.S. Army
Training and Doctrine Command, G-2
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