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PLA

American  

abbreviation

  1. People's Liberation Army.


PLA British  

abbreviation

  1. Port of London Authority

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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About 52% of PLA leadership positions have been impacted, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

From BBC Mar. 13, 2026

Xi wants to avoid that so he can have "lasting influence with the PLA," Hart writes.

From BBC Mar. 13, 2026

“Zhang’s intellect, experience and his relationship with Xi made honesty and objectivity possible, and that makes him an exception among PLA generals.”

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 8, 2026

In the near term, given the significant vacancies in the top ranks of China's PLA, "it would be incredibly difficult for China to launch large military campaigns against Taiwan", the experts said.

From Barron's Mar. 3, 2026

The PLA remains one of the world’s largest and most formidable armed forces, with an estimated two million personnel operating advanced armaments from stealth fighters to aircraft carriers.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 28, 2026

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