The PLA at Home and Abroad - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

Civil-Military Symbiosis: Identifying the Changes
and Continuities.
How has post-Mao reform altered this pattern of
CCP/PLA interaction? The obsolescence of symbiosis
as a defining concept is now a common view. 6 The diversification
of Party/PLA interests has exerted strong
impact on Party/army interaction and led prominent
scholars to explore replacement of symbiosis as the
dominant theoretical paradigm. 7
The paradigm symbiosis is built on four pillars in
Party/PLA relations: (1) a common ideological and
revolutionary ferment; (2) an overlapping personnel
structure reflecting an integrated decisionmaking process
at the apex of power; 8 (3) a nearly equal political
status; and (4) shared mentality and vested interests in
governance. These four pillars have historically provided
channels for Party penetration into the military
and for PLA intervention in civilian politics (相互渗
透). As a result, the PLA acquired a political role.
Changes have taken place in all of these four parameters,
giving rise to a new pattern of civil-military
interplay. First, revolution is no longer an organizational
objective for the PLA. It simply describes its
willing subordination to the Party with no forced
ideological hold on soldiers. Second, the overlapping
personnel structure is basically undone. There is no
politician in uniform in the country. 9 The minimized
PLA presentation at the apex of power has become
largely functional. The Party owns the procedural
control over the appointments of the top brass, but
these appointments are mainly based on CMC nominations.
10 Third, the military’s status in the political
system is crucial, as it holds the final say to the settle-
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