China is shifting brigades from the army to the Marines and Navy to shift from a land war focus to securing Belt and Road ports and other South China Sea islands and trade routes.

China is reducing the size of the People's Liberation Army by 300,000, with nearly all of the cuts coming from the land forces.

Some of China's Marines would be stationed at ports China operates in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and Gwadar in southwest Pakistan.

China has already shifted two brigades of special combat soldiers from the army to the marines. China will increase to six marine brigades with a total of 100,000. China will also boost the Navy by 15% from 235,000 to about 270,000.