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

developments throughout the U.S. military logistics
system since the 1990s, and particularly since the Iraq
War began in 2003. Among the topics of interest for
potential application to Chinese logistics systems are
bar coding and radio-frequency (RF) tracking, which
could greatly improve assets visibility, and enhance
information management systems for inventory control
and distribution. There also has been special interest
in how the U.S. military logistics system leverages
contracted civilian support, as well as how streamlined
distribution networks provide more agile support
to the end user. 31
Discussions of how to improve China’s military
logistics have not been limited to military affiliated
researchers and active duty personnel, however. Civilian
researchers, too, are actively assessing ways to
adapt modern logistics methods, including domestic
commercial advances such as regional support centers
to improve military capabilities. Further, the military
is increasingly looking to the civilian logistics sector
for ways to enhance military logistics.
While it appears that the PLA logistics system is
scurrying to leverage its own civilian logistics knowhow,
as well as that of more advanced military systems,
such as the United States, its ability to generate
knowledge and technology into logistics capacity remains
a work in progress that requires a combination
of more sophisticated knowledge with operational experience,
application, and testing of systems and technology
to optimize their effectiveness. Additionally,
the Chinese military will need a team of expert military
and civilian logisticians who can work together
to support the commander’s intent. As a start point to
assess China’s logistics capability in terms of practical
application such as support to force projection, we
561