Chinese soldiers test a flame thrower during a military exercise in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province, 13 November 2007. China is working to transform the 2.3-million-strong PLA, once a bloated and backward peasant force, into a lean and high-tech fighting force. Getty Images logo Getty Images 19 months ago

Chinese soldiers test a flame thrower during a military exercise in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province, 13 November 2007. China is working to transform the 2.3-million-strong PLA, once a bloated and backward peasant force, into a lean and high-tech fighting force.

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