The Chinese have been steadily REDUCING their total military troop strength for many years now.
China's Military Strength Growing, Defense Department Says
http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive/2005/Jul/21-224768.html
[In an interview with reporters accompanying him from Washington, Rumsfeld said the United States and other countries would like to know why the Chinese government has understated its defense spending. He mentioned no budget figures, but the Pentagon said last summer that China may be spending $90 billion on defense this year, three times the announced total.
"I think it's interesting that other countries wonder why they would be increasing their defense effort at the pace they are and yet not acknowledging it," Rumsfeld said. "That is as interesting as the fact that it's increasing at the pace it is."]
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/1019rumsfeld19.html
"The Chinese have been steadily REDUCING their total military troop strength for many years now"
Source, please?
Thanks