In a significant ongoing development, China is effecting a massive shake-up and restructuring of its People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The reforms which were unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year aim to enhance discipline, root out corruption and create a modern Chinese armed force. It’s generally accepted that the PLA, despite acquiring modern weapons over the years, suffers from outdated command structures. This in turn is seen as breeding complacency and entrenched interests. Hence, an overhaul was needed to update systems and bring the PLA in line with China’s 21st century objectives.
It’s against this backdrop that the reform measures were initiated. Accordingly, the PLA’s four headquarters have been split up, slimmed down and absorbed into the Central Military Commission as part of the latter’s 15 new departments. The move enhances the Chinese Communist Party’s oversight and reinforces party control over the PLA. Further, China’s previous seven military regions have been reorganised into five theatre commands. In fact, India’s defence minister Manohar Parrikar was taken to the new integrated western theatre command of the PLA in Chengdu – which has operational jurisdiction over the India-China border areas – during his recent trip to China.
Additionally, measures have been taken to make the PLA less focussed on land-based forces by creating a separate command for the army, putting it on an equal footing with the navy and air force. There’s no denying that all of these restructuring efforts have been undertaken keeping in mind China’s current strategic environment. Beijing wants to counter-balance the American pivot to Asia and for this it needs to shore up its blue water naval capabilities and prepare functions for informationised warfare. However, while the reforms will create a nimbler armed force, they will also firmly put it under the party-government leadership.
The latter aspect is highlighted by three key developments. First, in March the Central Military Commission ordered the PLA to end all commercial activities within three years. This was done to lessen the incentives for military-related corruption and misconduct. Second, 10 teams of central inspectors were recently sent to all parts of the Chinese military to purify the PLA. This again strengthens central oversight and enhances the inspection systems within the armed force. And lastly, Xi Jinping assuming the new title of commander-in-chief of the Chinese military in addition to his role as chairman of the Central Military Commission firmly establishes civilian control over the PLA.
Why is all of this important? It’s because China is in the midst of a significant socio-economic transition. It can’t continue with the old ways of doing business that centred on connections and privileges. With a burgeoning middle class asking more questions of those in power, the only solution lies in bolstering rules-based institutionalised systems. However, change is bound to upset vested interests. And the PLA represents a massive pillar of the Chinese state. Hence, reforming it and reasserting civilian oversight were imperatives that Xi simply couldn’t ignore.
For those unhappy with Xi’s overall reforms could have coalesced around powerful elements of the PLA. The Chinese President is slowly closing off this possibility. Over the past three years, nearly 50 senior officers of the PLA and the Armed Police Force have been convicted or investigated for corruption allegations. All of this is part of the larger transition plan. For one thing that the Communist Party is clear about is that it will not tolerate any criticism or machinations against it during this crucial period. In its view, it’s the party that has held China together and brought prosperity to the Chinese people. And it’s the party that will see this transition through.
