New military command systems to reinforce the ability of Chinese army to conduct joint operations 12202162

Defence & Security News - China
 
New military command systems to reinforce the ability of Chinese army to conduct joint operations.
The redrawing of China’s military theater command districts will incorporate the restructuring of the military’s command systems, for the first time putting army, navy and air forces under a unified combined command. (Source Manila Times)
     
The redrawing of China’s military theater command districts will incorporate the restructuring of the military’s command systems, for the first time putting army, navy and air forces under a unified combined command. (Source Manila Times) PLA Armored Training Unit (Source Wikipedia)
     
These changes are intended to reinforce the ability of the People’s Liberation Army ( PLA) to conduct effective joint military operations. China needed to make such changes if it wanted to compete with the world’s most advanced militaries.

The old regions were controlled entirely by ground forces, which in peacetime focused more on administration and preparation than command of actual military operations. The regions could be upgraded into “war zones” in times of military emergency, during which these zones would bring the region’s naval and air forces under the command of the military region commander — always an army general.

The new Chinese commands appear to have integrated military staffs composed of members from all branches of military service. In addition, announcements from the Chinese Defense Ministry imply that air force and naval operational forces will also be subordinated to the new theater commands, similar to the US structure in which regional land, air and naval component commands report to overarching combatant commands.

After establishing its new theater commands, China’s military will begin perfecting their function. It will test not only whether it can effectively integrate the operations of all forces but also how well they interface with the new Central Military Commission staff and the service headquarters responsible for equipping and training those forces.

These reforms have the potential to improve the PLA and make it a force capable of meeting the challenges of modern warfare.