Research Catalog

Title

China's incomplete military transformation : assessing the weaknesses of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) / Michael S. Chase [and six others].

Author

Chase, Michael.

Publication

Santa Monica, CA : RAND, [2015]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Engstrom, Jeffrey G.
• Cheung, Tai Ming
• Gunness, Kristen, 1976-
• Harold, Scott, 1975-
• Puska, Susan M.
• Berkowitz, Samuel K.
• Rand Corporation. National Security Research Division.
• U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, sponsoring body.

Description

xv, 184 pages; 23 cm

Summary

This report examines many of the weaknesses in China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) human capital and organization realms, its combat capabilities across various domains, and China's defense research and industrial complex. Furthermore, the report analyzes how these weaknesses affect the PLA's performance of missions tasked by Beijing. China's military isn't ready to win wars despite spending heavily to modernize. The People's Liberation Army suffers from 'potentially serious weaknesses' that could limit its ability to conduct the operations required to fight and win future conflicts. "Although the PLA's capabilities have increased dramatically, its remaining weaknesses increase the risk of failure to successfully perform the missions the Chinese Communist Party leaders may task it to perform," the report says. It cited Taiwan contingencies, maritime claim missions, protecting sea lines of communications and some non-war military operations. The report looks at two critical shortcomings: institutional and combat capabilities. On institutional issues, the PLA faces shortcomings regarding outdated command structures, quality of personnel, professionalism and corruption. Combat weaknesses include logistical, insufficient strategic airlift capabilities, limited numbers of special-mission aircraft, and deficiencies in fleet air defense and anti-submarine warfare.

Alternative Title

Assessing the weaknesses of the People's Liberation Army (PLA)

Subject

• China. Zhongguo ren min jie fang jun
• Defense industries > China
• China > Military policy
• China > Strategic aspects
• China > Defenses

Note

• "RR-893-USCC"

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Preface. -- Executive summary. -- Introduction: the importance of understanding the People's Liberation Army's weaknesses. -- People's Liberation Army modernization: mid-1990s to 2025. -- Missions of the People's Liberation Army. -- Weaknesses in People's Liberation Army organization and human capital. -- Weaknesses of People's Liberation Army combat capabilities. -- Weaknesses in China's defense industry. -- Conclusion: People's Liberation Army weaknesses and their implications. -- Appendix: critical assumptions. -- References. -- Index.

ISBN

9780833088307 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2015006148

OCLC

• 903812712
• SCSB-10192777

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library