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

of the military in an emergency management system.
99 It is likely that some of the lessons derived from
these experiences have contributed to the drafting of
the new law on military mobilization. 100 The interest
in constructing a more efficient emergency response
system and in learning from the United States suggests
that the U.S. Government and the American
military could use cooperation with China in emergency
response and disaster relief as a way of pursuing
mutually beneficial engagement with the PLA. 101
Possibilities include short-term assistance during
natural disasters, but also training in techniques and
equipment, small-scale joint exercises in disaster relief
and rescue operations, and consultation regarding
emergency response law, planning, training, and institutional
frameworks. The absence of Chinese forces
during the tsunami disaster of 2004 and the Chinese
role in similar situations in the future are also topics
of discussion in China. Joint exercises on international
disaster response and rescue are another area in which
the United States could engage the PLA. 102
In operational terms, the PLA’s recent experiences
in disaster relief underline continued problems with
equipment, logistics, airlift capability, and joint operations.
Training, specialized rescue units and equipment
(both rudimentary and specialized) were all in
short supply. The lack of heavy helicopter transport
capability and the PLAAF’s apparent inability to efficiently
deliver large numbers of troops to the disaster
are particularly striking. The PLA has been working to
increase its force projection capabilities and its ability
to perform joint operations. Exercises including Peace
Mission 2007 (a joint exercise with Russia and other
members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization)
involved carefully planned airlift and force projection
268