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

forces in both the defense and the offense under informationalized
conditions, but shortcomings continue
to co-exist alongside improvements that provide contradictory
indicators about the pace, scope, and potential
intent of China’s military modernization.
• Military logistics modernization now enjoys
the highest priority it has had in the 30 long
years of defense modernization in China. Consequently,
developments in China’s military
logistics capacity will remain an important
indicator of when and how well China would
project power beyond its land borders.
• Based on the level of effort and trends of logistics
modernization over the last 10 years, we
should expect continued operational logistics
improvements to support military operations
outside China’s border.
• Improvements can be accelerated with command
decisions from above, increased sense of
urgency to address perceived threats, and application
of greater resources and heightened
priority.
• China’s civilian logistics system, which is concurrently
modernizing and maturing at a significant
rate, should help multiply the capacity
of the military logistics system through direct
support to mobilization and outsourcing. Additionally,
a more robust and sophisticated
civilian logistics system should also help improve
China’s military logistics over time, and
continue to feed innovation and adaptation of
new and improve logistics systems and practices
into the military, as occurs in other countries.
• The PLA has made a good start on its ability
to project force globally with the Gulf of Aden
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