The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) () is the military of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is the largest standing army in the world and is also the largest employer in the world, with 2.25 million troops (3.25 million if active paramilitary personnel are counted), and includes naval, air, and strategic nuclear forces. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927, as the military arm of the Communist Party of China, and was named the Red Army until June 1946. The People's Liberation Army's insignia consists of a round device with a red star bearing the Chinese characters for "Eight One" referring to August 1 (Chinese:八一, Pinyin: bā yī), the date of the 1927 Nanchang Uprising, surrounded by wheat ears and cog wheels.