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🇨🇳
Ranks· 🇨🇳 China

China vs Taiwan Military Ranks

The Chinese Army has 19 ranks — 10 officer and 9 enlisted — from 陆军列兵 (Private) up to 陆军上将 (General). Below: all 57 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their Taiwanese equivalents.

Branches
3
Ranks documented
57
Active personnel
2M

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 19 matched
🇨🇳 China · Army NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
China Army 陆军上将 (General) insignia 陆军上将 (General) OF-9 General Taiwan Army 一級上將 Yījí Shàngjiàng insignia 一級上將 Yījí Shàngjiàng Taiwan Army 二級上將 Èrjí Shàngjiàng insignia 二級上將 Èrjí Shàngjiàng
China Army 陆军中将 (Lieutenant General) insignia 陆军中将 (Lieutenant General) OF-8 Lieutenant General Taiwan Army 中將 Zhōngjiàng insignia 中將 Zhōngjiàng
China Army 陆军少将 (Major General) insignia 陆军少将 (Major General) OF-7 Major General Taiwan Army 少將 Shaojiàng insignia 少將 Shaojiàng
China Army 陆军大校 (Senior Colonel) insignia 陆军大校 (Senior Colonel) OF-6 Brigadier General
China Army 陆军上校 (Colonel) insignia 陆军上校 (Colonel) OF-5 Colonel Taiwan Army 上校 Shàngxiào insignia 上校 Shàngxiào
China Army 陆军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel) insignia 陆军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel) OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel Taiwan Army 中校 Zhōngxiào insignia 中校 Zhōngxiào
China Army 陆军少校 (Major) insignia 陆军少校 (Major) OF-3 Major / Commandant Taiwan Army 少校 Shàoxiào insignia 少校 Shàoxiào
China Army 陆军上尉 (Captain) insignia 陆军上尉 (Captain) OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant Taiwan Army 上尉 Shàngwèi insignia 上尉 Shàngwèi
China Army 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) insignia 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Army 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Army 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
China Army 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) insignia 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Army 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Army 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
Enlisted ranks
China Army 陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major) insignia 陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major) OR-9 Sergeant Major Taiwan Army 一等士官長 Yīděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 一等士官長 Yīděng Shìguānzhǎng
China Army 陆军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major) insignia 陆军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major) OR-8 1st Sergeant Taiwan Army 二等士官長 Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 二等士官長 Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng
China Army 陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major) insignia 陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major) OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class Taiwan Army 三等士官長 Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 三等士官長 Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng
China Army 陆军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant) insignia 陆军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant) OR-6 Staff Sergeant Taiwan Army 上士 Shàngshi insignia 上士 Shàngshi
China Army 陆军二级上士 (Second Class Master Sergeant) insignia 陆军二级上士 (Second Class Master Sergeant) OR-5 Sergeant Taiwan Army 中士 Zhōngshi insignia 中士 Zhōngshi
China Army 陆军中士 (Sergeant) insignia 陆军中士 (Sergeant) OR-4 Corporal Taiwan Army 下士 Xiàshi insignia 下士 Xiàshi
China Army 陆军下士 (Corporal) insignia 陆军下士 (Corporal) OR-3 Private 1st Class Taiwan Army 上等兵 Shàngděng Bīng insignia 上等兵 Shàngděng Bīng
China Army 陆军上等兵 (Private First Class) insignia 陆军上等兵 (Private First Class) OR-2 Private Taiwan Army 一等兵 Yīděng Bīng insignia 一等兵 Yīděng Bīng
China Army 陆军列兵 (Private) insignia 陆军列兵 (Private) OR-1 Private Taiwan Army 二等兵 Èrděng Bīng insignia 二等兵 Èrděng Bīng

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 19 matched
🇨🇳 China · Air Force NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
China Air Force 空军上将 (General) insignia 空军上将 (General) OF-9 General Taiwan Air Force 一級上將 Yījí Shàngjiàng insignia 一級上將 Yījí Shàngjiàng Taiwan Air Force 二級上將 Èrjí Shàngjiàng insignia 二級上將 Èrjí Shàngjiàng
China Air Force 空军中将 (Lieutenant General) insignia 空军中将 (Lieutenant General) OF-8 Lieutenant General Taiwan Air Force 中將 Zhōngjiàng insignia 中將 Zhōngjiàng
China Air Force 空军少将 (Major General) insignia 空军少将 (Major General) OF-7 Major General Taiwan Air Force 少將 Shaojiàng insignia 少將 Shaojiàng
China Air Force 空军大校 (Senior Colonel) insignia 空军大校 (Senior Colonel) OF-6 Brigadier General
China Air Force 空军上校 (Colonel) insignia 空军上校 (Colonel) OF-5 Colonel Taiwan Air Force 上校 Shàngxiào insignia 上校 Shàngxiào
China Air Force 空军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel) insignia 空军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel) OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel Taiwan Air Force 中校 Zhōngxiào insignia 中校 Zhōngxiào
China Air Force 空军少校 (Major) insignia 空军少校 (Major) OF-3 Major / Commandant Taiwan Air Force 少校 Shàoxiào insignia 少校 Shàoxiào
China Air Force 空军上尉 (Captain) insignia 空军上尉 (Captain) OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant Taiwan Air Force 上尉 Shàngwèi insignia 上尉 Shàngwèi
China Air Force 空军中尉 (First Lieutenant) insignia 空军中尉 (First Lieutenant) OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Air Force 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Air Force 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
China Air Force 空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) insignia 空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) OF-1 Lieutenant Taiwan Air Force 中尉 Zhōngwèi insignia 中尉 Zhōngwèi Taiwan Air Force 少尉 Shàowèi insignia 少尉 Shàowèi
Enlisted ranks
China Air Force 空军一级军士长 (Master sergeant first class) insignia 空军一级军士长 (Master sergeant first class) OR-9 Sergeant Major Taiwan Air Force 一等士官長 Yīděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 一等士官長 Yīděng Shìguānzhǎng
China Air Force 空军二级军士长 (Master sergeant second class) insignia 空军二级军士长 (Master sergeant second class) OR-8 1st Sergeant Taiwan Air Force 二等士官長 Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 二等士官長 Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng
China Air Force 空军三级军士长 (Master sergeant third class) insignia 空军三级军士长 (Master sergeant third class) OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class Taiwan Air Force 三等士官長 Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng insignia 三等士官長 Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng
China Air Force 空军一级上士 (Technical sergeant) insignia 空军一级上士 (Technical sergeant) OR-6 Staff Sergeant Taiwan Air Force 上士 Shàngshi insignia 上士 Shàngshi
China Air Force 空军二级上士 (Staff sergeant) insignia 空军二级上士 (Staff sergeant) OR-5 Sergeant Taiwan Air Force 中士 Zhōngshi insignia 中士 Zhōngshi
China Air Force 空军中士 (Sergeant) insignia 空军中士 (Sergeant) OR-4 Corporal Taiwan Air Force 下士 Xiàshi insignia 下士 Xiàshi
China Air Force 空军下士 (Corporal) insignia 空军下士 (Corporal) OR-3 Private 1st Class Taiwan Air Force 上等兵 Shàngděng Bīng insignia 上等兵 Shàngděng Bīng
China Air Force 空军上等兵 (Airman First Class) insignia 空军上等兵 (Airman First Class) OR-2 Private Taiwan Air Force 一等兵 Yīděng Bīng insignia 一等兵 Yīděng Bīng
China Air Force 空军列兵 (Airman) insignia 空军列兵 (Airman) OR-1 Private Taiwan Air Force 二等兵 Èrděng Bīng insignia 二等兵 Èrděng Bīng

Overview

The armed forces of China, known as the "People's Liberation Army" (PLA), are among the largest and most powerful military forces in the world. The PLA consists of several branches, each with specific roles and responsibilities:

  • People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF): The PLAGF is responsible for land-based military operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and territorial integrity.
  • People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN): The PLAN focuses on maritime defense and security, operating a variety of vessels, including aircraft carriers, submarines, surface ships, and patrol boats. It is responsible for safeguarding China's extensive coastline and maritime interests in the South China Sea and beyond.
  • People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF): The PLAAF is responsible for aerial defense and operations. It operates fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters, ensuring air superiority and national defense.
  • People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF): The PLARF oversees China's missile forces, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which form a critical part of China's nuclear deterrent.
  • People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF): The PLASSF focuses on electronic warfare, cyber operations, and space-based capabilities, providing support for the PLA's modern warfare needs.
China Military
China military personnel in dress uniforms
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