A GIANT STATUE OF LATE CHAIRMAN MAO STANDS AT THE ENTRANCE TO A MILITARY BASE IN...

A giant statue of late chairman Mao Zedong stands at the entrance to the military base of Brigade 196 in Tianjin, southeast of China's capital Beijing, on July 10, 2002. The base used to house a division of 12,000 troops but was trimmed to 3,500 in 1998 as part of a drive to slash the PLA's bloated payroll. China has spent billions of dollars over the last decade on arms purchases from Russia as well as pay rises and better training for soldiers to try to create a modern, professional and high-technology fighting force. China celebrates the 75th anniversary of the PLA's founding on August 1. REUTERS/Andrew Wong ASW/JD