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Helicopters fly in the formation of the number "90" symbolizing the epic journey of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 90 years during a military parade at Zhurihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 30, 2017. China on Sunday kicked off a grand military parade to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the PLA. (Xinhua file photo/Wang Jianhua)

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- This winter marks the second anniversary of the launch of China's reform of its armed forces.

Here's a list of facts and figures on the historic breakthroughs.

-- Four general departments at military headquarters were reorganized into 15 agencies within the Central Military Commission (CMC). One-third of the personnel were cut.

-- Five theater commands were established to replace the previous seven military area commands.

-- A new military structure has been established with the CMC exercising overall leadership, while the theater commands are responsible for military operations and the services focus on developing capabilities.

-- After remarkable downsizing of the ground forces, the army now accounts for less than 50 percent of the armed forces.

-- Over 1,000 units at the regiment level or above and 30 percent of commissioned officers were cut during the reform.

-- Seventy-seven military education institutions were regrouped to 43, including a strengthened National University of Defense Technology.

-- New laws and regulations on military issues have been introduced or amended, including a revised regulation on civilian personnel in the military released on Nov. 10, 2017.

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