The People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces, or the SOF, is a branch of the PLA Ground Force. It specializes in rapid response combat in a limited regional war under high-tech conditions, and comprises of branches for commando operations, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering. 

Chinese SOF units are relatively young, with roots in earlier reconnaissance units. As a new type of unit, they receive priority for development. SOFs are found in every military Theater Command, and the Navy and the Air Force. These soldiers have turned in excellent performances in international competitions. And they have demonstrated their capabilities in many missions. But many believe the real transformation is to take place in the years to come. And more sophisticated joint operation capabilies have yet to be tested in actual combat.

SOF soldiers are undergoing more intensive training than ever before. They told CGTN’s Han Bin that they are willing to sacrifice themselves in defense of their homeland, if China finds itself at war. The building up of China’s SOFs represents a shift in the operational thinking, from an army-dominated force structure, to integrated joint operations, with a highly flexible elite force.