China’s Military Representatives: Striving Toward Professional Contracting and Procurement

China’s military contracting and procurement system is undergoing significant changes intended to raise its professionalism, efficiency, and effectiveness. One major focus of these reforms is the Military Representative Office (MRO) system that oversees contracting and procurement under the General Armament Department (GAD). Improvements in GAD’s MRO system could raise the military’s overall effectiveness by improving quality and reducing graft and waste. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) MRO pilot program currently underway may pave the way for integrated change across the service arms and enhance GAD’s role.