Southern Theater Command

Southern Theater Command
Southern Theater Command
南部战区
Founded	1 February 2016;9 years ago
Country	People's Republic of China
Allegiance	Chinese Communist Party
Type	Theater Command
Role	Command and control
Part of	People's Liberation Army
Headquarters	Guangzhou, Guangdong
Website	Official website
Commanders
Commander	General Wu Yanan
Political Commisar	General Wang Wenquan
Chief of Staff	General Chen Zhaohai
Insignia
Sleeve insignia

Last updated March 27, 2025

The Southern Theater Command (Chinese :南部战区; pinyin :Nánbù zhànqū) is one of the five theater commands of the People's Liberation Army, founded on 1 February 2016. Its predecessor was the Guangzhou Military Region.

Area of responsibility

Southern Theater Command's area of responsibility (AOR) includes Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam (Mainland Southeast Asia) and the South China Sea. The command's primary missions are maintaining security in the South China Sea and likely supporting the Eastern Theater Command in any major amphibious operation against Taiwan.^[3]

Organizational structure

The Southern Theater Command consists of the following components:

Southern Theater Command Ground Force
- 74th Group Army
  - 1st Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade
  - 125th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade
  - 132rd Light Combined Arms Brigade
  - 163rd Light Combined Arms Brigade
  - 154th Medium Combined Arms Brigade
  - 16th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade
  - 74th Special Operations Brigade
  - 74th Army Aviation Brigade
  - 74th Artillery Brigade
  - 74th Air Defense Brigade
  - 74th Engineer and Chemical Defense Brigade
  - 74th Sustainment Brigade
- 75th Group Army
  - 32nd Mountain Combined Arms Brigade
  - 37th Light Combined Arms Brigade
  - 42nd Light Combined Arms Brigade
  - 122nd Medium Combined Arms Brigade
  - 31st Heavy Combined Arms Brigade
  - 123rd Heavy Combined Arms Brigade
  - 121st Air Assault Brigade
  - 75th Special Operation Brigade
  - 75th Artillery Brigade
  - 75th Air Defense Brigade
  - 75th Engineer and Chemical Defense Brigade
  - 75th Sustainment Brigade^{[ citation needed ]}
Southern Theater Command Navy (South Sea Fleet)
- 2nd Destroyer Detachment
- 9th Destroyer Detachment
- 17th Frigate Detachment
- 18th Frigate Detachment
- 19th Frigate Detachment
- 32nd Submarine Detachment
- 52nd Submarine Detachment
- 6th Landing Ship Detachment
- 3rd Combat Support Ship Detachment
- Danger and Lifesaver Detachment^{[ citation needed ]}
Southern Theater Command Air Force
- 2nd Independent Regiment
- 2nd Fighter Division
- 8th Bomber Division
- 9th Fighter Division
- 13th Transport Division
- 18th Fighter Division
- 42nd Fighter Division^{[ citation needed ]}

List of leaders

Commanders

English name	Chinese name	Took office	Left office
Wang Jiaocheng	王教成	February 2016	January 2017
Yuan Yubai	袁誉柏	January 2017	June 2021
Wang Xiubin	王秀斌	June 2021	July 2024
Wu Yanan	吴亚男	July 2024	Incumbent

Political commissars

English name	Chinese name	Took office	Left office
Wei Liang	魏亮	February 2016	April 2018
Wang Jianwu	王建武	December 2018	December 2023
Wang Wenquan	王文全	December 2023	Incumbent

References

↑ "与原七大军区比，五大战区分别管辖哪儿？". news.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
↑ Dang, Yuanyue (December 26, 2023). "China names submariner Hu Zhongming as top PLA Navy commander". South China Morning Post . Retrieved December 26, 2023.
↑ Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 7-100.3: Chinese Tactics. Washington D.C.: Headquarters, Department of the Army (United States). 2021. p. 35. ISBN 9798457607118.

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[1] "与原七大军区比，五大战区分别管辖哪儿？". news.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2019.

[2] Dang, Yuanyue (December 26, 2023). "China names submariner Hu Zhongming as top PLA Navy commander". South China Morning Post . Retrieved December 26, 2023.

[3] Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 7-100.3: Chinese Tactics. Washington D.C.: Headquarters, Department of the Army (United States). 2021. p. 35. ISBN 9798457607118.

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