Chinese Military Modernization and Force Development: A Western Perspective

China’s military modernization, and its impact on the military balance has become a critical issue in assessing both Asian security and the nature of US and Chinese strategic completion. The Burke Chair has developed a comprehensive update of its previous analysis of Chinese military strategy and developments. This report is entitled Chinese Military Modernization and Force Development: A Western Perspective, and it is available on the CSIS web site at: https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/120727_Chinese_Military_Modernization_Force_Dvlpment.pdf

The analysis focuses as much as possible on trends in terms of hard numbers and on the ability assess Chinese power in terms that can promote a security dialogue between the US and China, and on a regional level.  It also examines the balance in the Taiwan Straits as a case study.

The contents of the analysis include a wide range of maps, tables, and charts:

Introduction    4

Chapter 1

Assessing China’s Armed Forces    12

Chapter 2

Underlying Resources for China’s Security Capabilities    19

Economic Trends    19

Demographic Trends    27

Chapter 3   

Chinese Strategy and PLA Military Doctrine    32

Chinese Strategic Doctrine    32

Chinese Campaign Doctrine    35

Service Strategy    39

The US View    40

Chapter 4

Chinese Military Organization    46

Organization of the Chinese Security Forces    46

PLA Military Organization    49

Military Spending    63

Institutional PLA Modernization    72

Chapter 5

The PLA Army    80

Shifts in Force Structure, Manpower, and Equipment    80

Shifts in Force Structure    94

Shifts in Manpower    95

Trends in Major Equipment Strength    97

Equipment Modernization    100

Shifts in Unit Training    103

Conclusion    103

Chapter 6   

The PLA Navy    104

PLAN Service Strategy    105

Shift in Force Structure, Equipment Composition, and Manpower    111

Shift in Force Structure    111

Shift in Equipment Composition    122

Shifts in Manpower    127

Conclusion    130

Chapter 7   

PLA Air Force    131

PLAAF Service Strategy    131

Shift in Force Structure, Equipment Composition, and Manpower    133

Shift in Force Structure    133

Shift in Equipment Composition    145

Shift in Manpower    150

Conclusion    151

Chapter 8 PLA Missile and Nuclear Forces   

The Second Artillery Corps    152

SAC Service Strategy    154

Shifts in Force Structure, Equipment Composition, and Manpower    155

Other Burke Chair country studies include:

Afghanistan: The Failing Economics of Transition
Available at: https://www.csis.org/analysis/afghanistan-failing-economics-transition

U.S. and Iranian Strategic Competition
Available at: https://www.csis.org/programs/burke-chair-strategy/iran/us-and-iranian-strategic-competition

The Korean Military Balance: Comparative Korean Forces and the Forces of Key Neighboring States
Available at:  https://www.csis.org/analysis/korean-military-balance

Pakistan - Violence Versus Stability: A National Net Assessment
Available at: http://csis.org/publication/pakistan-violence-versus-stability