The Dynamics Of People’s Liberation Army Modernisation (2002-2004)

Military Strategic Guidelines, issued by the Central Military Commissionof the Chinese Communist Party, also known as the People’s Liberation Army’s(PLA) doctrine, are responsible for the direction of Chinese militarymodernisation and reform. The PLA implements changes in personnel training,creates new systems of organisation, and develops and acquires new weapons inresponse to doctrinal changes.Every major change in doctrine since1979has come following a perceivedchange in the security and political environment. When Xiaoping, dismissedthe possibility of “total warfare” the PLA began to prepare for “Local WarUnder Modern Conditions” in1985. However, after witnessing US operations inthe1991Gulf War, Chinese military planners realized its unpreparedness tofight contemporary wars. They responded with further revision, planning tofight “Local Wars Under Modern High-technology Conditions”.In2004the PLA began to prepare for “Local War UnderInformationalised Conditions”. As a result, it invested in asymmetric andnetwork-centric warfare capabilities. A commitment to Integrated JointOperations has been shown by the inclusion of permanent representatives of thePLA Navy, Air Force, and Second Artillery on the CMC. Their inclusion allowsthese services to have a direct influence on policy making that may affect them.This thesis intends to prove the causes for the2002-2004doctrinaladjustments. It argues that these came as a response to a series of externalshocks, including the1999bombing of the Chinese embassy, the2001EP-3plane crash and the Afghanistan and Iraq War. To some observers in Beijing,these events suggested an attempt by the US to expand its hegemony. The PLA,therefore, needed to become a force capable of defending China’s interests.Efforts to modernise were sustained by domestic dynamics, as it appeared thatTaiwan was increasingly committed to pursuing independence.