| MAJOR PAP AND PLA SOF UNITS | ||
| HIGHER HEADQUARTERS | UNIT | UNIT NAME |
| Central Military Commission | People’s Armed Police | Snow Leopards Commando Unit |
| Falcon Commando Unit | ||
| Mountain Eagle Commando Unit | ||
| Northern Theater Command | 78th Group Army SOF BDE | Tigers of the Northeast |
| 79th Group Army SOF BDE | Lions | |
| 80th Group Army SOF BDE | Falcons | |
| Eastern Theater Command | 71st Group Army SOF BDE | Sharks |
| 72nd Group Army SOF BDE | Thunderbolts | |
| 73rd Group Army SOF BDE | Dragons of the East Sea | |
| Southern Theater Command | 74th Group Army SOF BDE | Unknown |
| 75th Group Army SOF BDE | Sword of the South | |
| PLA Navy Marine Corps SOF BDE | Sea Dragons | |
| Western Theater Command | 76th Group Army SOF BDE | Sirius |
| 77th Group Army SOF BDE | Cheetahs | |
| Xinjiang Military District SOF BDE | Snowy Owls | |
| Sharp Blade of the Kunlun | ||
| Tibet Military District SOF BDE | Snow Leopards of the Plateau | |
| Central Theater Command | PLA Rocket Force Reconnaissance Regiment | Sharp Blade |
| PLA Air Force Airborne Corps SOF BDE | Thunder Gods | |
| 81st Group Army SOF BDE | Sacred Sword of the East | |
| 82nd Group Army SOF BDE | Whistling Arrows | |
| 83rd Group Army SOF BDE | Ferocious Tigers of the Central Plain | |
Internal Training and Exercises. The PRC’s SOF focus on individual and squad-level training; however, they have participated in larger combined arms and joint exercises. SOF training entails physical fitness training, close quarters combat, individual and team survival, camouflage, weapons proficiency, land navigation, and communication. All PRC SOF units are airborne and air assault capable.
The recent reforms under Xi gave theater commanders authority over a wider range of forces including PLA SOF and also emphasized joint training. However, these reforms did not create joint task forces which might encourage increased coordination between the services. The restructuring to theater commands has not resulted in increased integration of PLA SOF into joint training. There is scant evidence of PRC’s SOF units from different services training together or
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China
