The transformation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army into a 'world-class militar' : progress and challenges on the way to achieving joint operations capabilities

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been undergoing fundamental structural reform aimed at improving operational preparedness and combat capability. The imperative of a military loyal to the Communist Party dominates China's defence policy and permeates the PLA's organisational culture. The centralisation of decision-making power in the hands of the chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping, and his insistence on strict Party discipline run counter to a mission command model, as prescribed by the military doctrine. Joint operations capabilities require intensified training and cannot be achieved until there has been a generational change among the commanders. The PLA's structures and decision-making processes remain opaque. They encourage groupthink and significantly hinder information exchange with external actors. Amid the growing perception in Europe of threats from China, direct engagement with the PLA is becoming more important. Besides formal meetings with the Ministry of Defence and the Central Military Commission, the chiefs of the German and other European armed forces should promote the active and strategic use of more informal formats.