People's war principle drives PLA development

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. The year also marks the final phase of the journey toward achieving the centenary goals of the People's Liberation Army in 2027, making it necessary to stay on track, harness the core strengths of a "people's war" and mobilize the people for just causes.

Marxism holds that what is called history is nothing but the creation of man by human labor. In other words, people are the decisive force behind progress. The theory of people's war is rooted in this principle, and emphasizes that people, not weapons, ultimately determine the outcome of war.

The legacy of people's war has been evolving over the past 80 years. In today's era of multi-domain competition, victory depends on maintaining a strong bond with the people, adapting to technological and tactical changes, and mobilizing the people.