February 11, 2024, 12:02 pm
The modernisation of the Chinese PLA has represented a dramatic shift in the balance of military power in Asia.
Over the course of several decades, the PLA has shifted from a primarily ground combat force with a large stock of outdated equipment, to one that is increasingly capable of projecting power and holding targets at risk over longer and longer distances.
Having discussed the PRC’s military budget, industry, rocket force and other critical drivers, today I finally want to give an overview of the PLA’s changing capabilities and ask the question – what kind of force has China’s modernisation process created, and how may it continue to evolve going forward?
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Relevant Reading/sourcing
China’s National Defence in a New Era (2019)
https://english.www.gov.cn/archive/whitepaper/201907/24/content_WS5d3941ddc6d08408f502283d.html
US DOD – Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2023
https://media.defense.gov/2023/Oct/19/2003323409/-1/-1/1/2023-MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA.PDF
The PLA Strategic Support Force: Future-proofing China’s Military – Cosmo Cao
The PLA Strategic Support Force: future-proofing China’s military
China’s Strategic Support Force: A Force for a New Era – Costello & McReynolds, National Defence University
https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/stratperspective/china/china-perspectives_13.pdf
Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends: Current Capabilities and Future Threat Outlook – Bronk (2020)
https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/whitehall-reports/russian-and-chinese-combat-air-trends-current-capabilities-and-future-threat-outlook
CRS– China’s military, the PLA – 2021
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46808
China Naval Modernisation: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities – Background and Issue for Congress
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/RL33153.pdf
The Chinese Military Speaks to Itself, Revealing Doubts – Dennis Blasko
China Expanding YY-20 fleet
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/china-expanding-yy-20-aerial-refueller-fleet
The Creation of the PLA Strategic Support Force and its Implications for Chinese Military Space Operations – Pollpeter, Chase & Heginbotham (2017)
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2058.html
The U.S. China Military Scorecard – RAND – 2017
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR392.html
Learning Warfare from the Laboratory – China’s progression in wargaming and opposing force training – Kania, Burns & Caslin
https://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/Learning%20Warfare%20from%20the%20Laboratory%20ISW%20September%202021%20Report.pdf
Mentioned reporting of Chinese Type 99 usage during wargaming
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/WeaponryEquipment/News_209182/9409397.html
2007 Reporting on ASAT test
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2007/jan/23/spaceexploration.china
Type 59 image (2018)
http://eng.mod.gov.cn/focus/2018-03/16/content_4806946_3.htm
J-16 EW Version
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/airshow-china-2021-chinese-air-force-unveils-ew-variant-of-j-16-multirole-fighter-aircraft
PLA Operational Concepts – Burke,
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA300/RRA394-1/RAND_RRA394-1.pdf
Featured Economist article
https://www.economist.com/special-report/2023/11/06/xi-jinping-worries-that-chinas-troops-are-not-ready-to-fight
Caveats & Comments:
All normal caveats and comments apply.
In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.
Featured Image of multinational exercises
https://thediplomat.com/2016/05/us-japan-south-korea-plan-missile-defense-exercise-on-rimpac-2016-sidelines/
Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:00:42 — What Am I Talking About?
00:02:00 — Strategy And Strategic Environment
00:13:11 — The Forces
00:13:35 — The Strategic Support Force
00:17:59 — The Space Systems Department
00:18:49 — Network Systems Department
00:21:10 — PLA Ground Forces
00:27:51 — PLAAF (Air Force)
00:36:15 — PLAN (Navy)
00:49:22 — The Rocket Force
00:53:09 — Shortfalls, Trends & Perspectives
01:05:48 — Channel Update
Content Creator – Perun
