People's Liberation Army

The People's Liberation Army is the collective armed forces of the People's Republic of China and have appeared in both Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction and Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.

Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction


The People's Liberation Army is one of five factions in Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction. The PLA, commanded by Colonel Zhou Peng, has been ordered by China's leadership to invade North Korea, with the objective to defeat the Korean People's Army and set up a pro-Chinese regime in North Korea. Ultimately, North Korea is to be annexed into the People's Republic of China. This naturally puts the PLA at odds with both Korean nations, South and North. The People's Liberation Army is massive and has access to a staggering array of firepower; no other nation besides North Korea deploys as many main battle tanks in the game or can rival the PLA's number of soldiers. The PLA has deployed a great deal of field and air-defense artillery to support its frontline infantry and armored forces, and extend this considerable long-range firepower to the mercenary for a price. However, if the mercenary is on a contract from the Chinese, a number of calls for artillery fire and logistics support are frequently offered, and if they are, there is no fee.

"China is a vast and powerful nation," Colonel Peng says, early in the game when he is first meeting the mercenary sent by Executive Operations. The upside of this is that the PLA is a massive force that both Koreas have great difficulty opposing; the downside is that "the People's Army is large and slow to rouse", meaning it can take time (sometimes more than is acceptable) for the PLA to mobilize forces and respond to a threat or problem. High-precision actions taken on short notice are not what the PLA forces sent to North Korea are best equipped to handle. Realizing that the mercenary is an effective counter to this weakness of his country's army, Colonel Peng frequently sends the player on assassination, VIP extraction, and other missions requiring a highly competent operative and a more delicate touch than the PLA can usually do. Given that China is extremely unfriendly to the North Koreans and South Koreans alike (both Koreas have goals in the conflict that are at odds with China's) working for the Chinese often involves going up against NK or SK forces. Offered contracts will occasionally send the mercenary against the Russian Mafia as well, but unlike the two Koreas, whom Colonel Peng takes seriously, the PLA holds the Russian mob in contempt and sees them as an annoyance, scavengers to be crushed in a war being fought by proper soldiers.

Although officially part of the Allied coalition, the Chinese forces operate independently and do not follow the standard AN equipment patterns Being the largest single military force in the world, the PLA has access to some exceptionally powerful vehicles, these include a wide range of heavily-armed APCs, and more main battle tanks than any other faction in the game. Chinese forces possess more mechanized ground forces than any other faction in the game, rivaled only by the Korean People's Army, going to war with the PLA is not a very attractive idea. In addition to its enormous firepower in field artillery, the PLA supplies the Fuel Air Bomb air strike. The army, however, does not have much in the way of airpower, only having one attack helicopter: the WZ-9 transport/light support helicopter. In this area, the North Koreans, South Koreans, Allied Nations and even the Russian Mafia are stronger, possessing greater numbers of better-armed helicopters.

The Chinese goal of annexing North Korea puts them in an increasingly-antagonistic position with the South Koreans. There is a tense truce in the Southern Province during the first half of the game, but even then the Chinese and South Koreans are both willing to use the mercenary to take shots at each other. By the time the contract 'Persuasion' is completed and the fighting moves to the Northern Province the diplomatic situation between the PRC and the ROK has worsened, and before the game ends hostilities escalate into all-out war. The People's Liberation Army is engaged in bitter fighting with the Republic of Korea Army by the game's end, fighting at a considerable advantage with greater numbers and more armored vehicles.

Soldier Classes

 * Regulars - They are the most common members of the PLA. They wear winter/urban camouflage gear, with a Chinese flag on both shoulders. They are always seen using an Assault Rifle as their weapon of choice, and they drive all the vehicles available in their arsenal.
 * Heavies - Almost identical to the regulars, but also equipped with backpacks and fanny packs. They use a large variety of weapons such as light machine guns, RPGs, Sniper Rifles and Anti-Air rocket launchers.
 * Officers - Soldiers with an higher rank than regulars, they will expose the player disguise if s/he is driving a vehicle near them. They wear a white/grey mao cap instead of a helmet, and they use SMGs. Sometimes they can be seen manning machine guns on tanks.

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames


The People's Liberation Army make a return in Mercenaries 2: World in Flames with the intent to install a pro-Chinese government in Venezuela and protect Chinese interests. They originally funded and used the People's Liberation Army of Venezuela as a proxy. However, it became clear that their leader, Marcela Acosta, was unable (or unwilling) to overthrow Solano's government. At the same time, the United States under the name of the Allied Nations intend on taking the oil for themselves. The PLA, under the command of the newly promoted General Peng, are under orders to seize control of the country and oil reserves. In Mercenaries 2, their HQ is the Castle of Saint Anthony and they control most of Cumana.



The PLA has arguably a smaller but denser and stronger armored presence than the Allied Nations, this can be noticed by trying to force one's way through Chinese territory in comparison to doing to same against the Allied Nations. The PLA has an abundance of constantly mobile Tempered Hammer Artillery self propelled artillery, Salamander APCs and Leaping Fox GLs constantly patrolling their HQ vicinity, They provide a very effective buffer for any ground attack. The main PLA base and PLA HQ are heavily defended with Iron Dove Heavy AAs making a successful hostile air approach very hard. The PLA also has many Bladesong Missile Boats patrolling on the Eastern side of Venezuela (anywhere East of Caracas).

It seems that the PLA have taken control of Isla de Margarita, they have a surprisingly strong position on the island and are using its dock for their Dynasty-class Missile Destroyer. It is not revealed why the PLA have taken over the Island other than it is a staging ground for operations on the mainland.

Soldier Classes

 * Regulars - The most common soldiers or riflemen come equipped with Bullpup Rifles. Their uniform has an iconic gray and black woodland camouflage pattern. They have rather common BDU matching coloured pants, Mao suit style cap with camouflage and military ensign, belt, small porch, backpack and brown boots.
 * Snipers - They looks the same to Regulars but uses Chinese Sniper Rifle and do not have backpack.
 * Heavies - Heavy weapons soldiers handle Fuel Air RPG and Automatic Rifles. They wear same BDU as regulars but have larger porch and backpack, and helmet with goggles. They may be much more common than regulars in some of Chinese outposts.
 * Officers - They are commanding officer of PLA. They wear light green jacket, shirt with a tie, and mao cap with same color. They are equipped with Bullpup Rifles and may appear as HVT, but they may also appear alongside with regular troops. They can wear a backpack.
 * SpecOps - They are elite troops guarding important locations for People's Liberation Army. They wear the Chinese BDU and additional bodyarmor and pads in knee, elbow and shoulder. Their helmet is same as heavy's but reinforced with visor and neckpad like riot helmet. They are equipped with Bullpup Rifles. They can be seen near HVT and Chinese HQ. They may wear a backpack.
 * Sailors - They are PLA navy troopers on board with Bladesong Missile Boats. They wear light green sailor uniform and brown boots, and equipped with SMGs. On their hat is written "People's Liberation Army Navy".
 * Pilots - They are pilots who handle PLA combat vehicles. Ground vehicle pilots wear the same BDU and body armor as the SpecOps but wear pilot headsets. Air vehicle pilots wear khaki jackets with red lines on the sleeves and pilot headsets.
 * Auxiliaries - They are workers who do support work for the PLA. They wear light green jackets and green pants over red shirts, and are equipped with Pistols. They can be seen around the Chinese HQ, like the tank hangar or main castle practicing Kung Fu.

Named characters

 * Colonel (later General) Zhou Peng - Commander of the PLA during the Song Initiative and the Venezuelan War.
 * Captain Kai Leu - Peng's personal aide during the Song Initiative.
 * Lieutenant Chan - PLA commander during the Venezuelan Crisis.
 * Lieutenant Chu - PLA commander during the Venezuelan Crisis.
 * Captain Sun - PLA commander during the Venezuelan Crisis.
 * Commander Lee - PLA commander during the Venezuelan Crisis.

Unnamed characters

 * The PLA HQ Guard.
 * Six officers who lead the defense of Propaganda Village during 'Persuasion'.
 * A tank commander stationed in Nampo during 'Omertà'.
 * An undercover soldier spying on the Russian Mafia in Yongbyon.

Infantry weapons

 * Assault Rifle
 * Submachine Gun
 * Light Machine Gun
 * RPG-7
 * Anti-Tank Missile Launcher
 * Anti-Air Missile Launcher
 * Sniper Rifle

Aircraft

 * WZ-9 Light Attack
 * Mi-17 Transport
 * S70 Transport
 * Su-25 Frogfoot (Aircraft used for the Fuel-Air Bomb airstrike)

Ground vehicles

 * BJ2020 Scout - Light Transport/Patrol Vehicle
 * Type 80 - Main Battle Tank
 * Type 96 - Heavy Battle Tank
 * Type 95 Anti-Air - Armoured Anti-Air
 * Type 89 APC - Armoured Personnel Carrier
 * Cargo Truck
 * Fuel Truck

Infantry weapons

 * Bullpup Rifle
 * Fuel Air RPG
 * SMG
 * Automatic Rifle
 * Chinese Sniper Rifle

Aircraft

 * Jade Wind Heavy Transport
 * Locust Assault Helicopter
 * Warsong Attack Helicopter
 * Nanchang Q-5 Fantan

Ground vehicles

 * Armored Tiger Semi
 * Armored Tiger Cargo
 * Armored Tiger Tanker
 * Armored Tiger MLRS
 * Leaping Fox
 * Leaping Fox GL
 * Salamander APC
 * Iron Dove Heavy AA
 * Iron Dove Jammer
 * Sundered Dragonfly IFV
 * Dragon Lance Light Tank
 * Tempered Hammer Artillery
 * Iron Mountain Heavy Tank

Naval vessels

 * Bladesong Missile Boat
 * Dynasty-Class missile Destroyer

Playground of Destruction
Allies: Allied Nations, South Korea (Before 'Persuasion')

Enemies: North Korea, Russian Mafia, South Korea (After 'Persuasion')

World in Flames
Allies: People's Liberation Army of Venezuela

Enemies: Allied Nations, Pirates, Universal Petroleum, Venezuela

Trivia

 * In Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, their decal livery isn't consistent. All of their vehicles feature an alternative version of the National emblem of the People's Republic of China in front of a star, but the Iron Dove Jammer and Sundered Dragonfly IFV instead have simple red stars nearly identical to the markings used in Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction.
 * They are the only faction in the game with a proper treaded Self-propelled gun.