Phillip Charles Saunders

"China's current military reforms are unprecedented in their ambition and in the scale and scope of the organizational changes. Virtually every part of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) now reports to different leaders, has had its mission and responsibilities changed, has lost or gained subordinate units, or has undergone a major internal reorganization. Drawing upon papers presented at two conferences co-organized by the U.S. National Defense University, RAND, and Taiwan's Council of Advanced Policy Studies, this edited volume brings together some of the world's best experts on the Chinese military to analyze the various dimensions of the reforms in detail and assess their implications for the PLA's ability to conduct joint operations, for the Chinese Communist Party's control of the army, and for civil-military integration. The contributors review the drivers and strategic context underpinning the reform effort, explore the various dimensions of PLA efforts to build a force capable of conducting joint operations, consider the implications for the PLA services, and examine Xi Jinping's role in driving the reforms through and using them to strengthen control over the military. The chapters chronicle successes and outstanding problems in the reform effort and consider what the net effect will be as the PLA strives to become a "world-class" military by mid-century, if not much sooner."--Page 4 of cover.

assessing Chinese military reforms

Chairman Xi remakes the PLA

Assessing Chinese Military Reforms

Chairman Xi Remakes the PLA

Joel Wuthnow

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has embarked on its most wide-ranging and ambitious restructuring since 1949, including major changes to most of its key organizations. The restructuring reflects the desire to strengthen PLA joint operation capabilities- on land, sea, in the air, and in the space and cyber domains. The reforms could result in a more adept joint warfighting force, though the PLA will continue to face a number of key hurdles to effective joint operations, Several potential actions would indicate that the PLA is overcoming obstacles to a stronger joint operations capability. The reforms are also intended to increase Chairman Xi Jinping's control over the PLA and to reinvigorate Chinese Communist Party (CCP) organs within the military. Xi Jinping's ability to push through reforms indicates that he has more authority over the PLA than his recent predecessors. The restructuring could create new opportunities for U.S.-China military contacts.

Phillip Charles Saunders

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