The PLA's Combat Leadership System: Time for a Change?

Chinas lack of major conventional combat experience on the modern battlefield makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the PLAs combat leadership. The commanders and officers leading the PLA today are unlike their combat-hardened, revolutionary predecessors. Instead, todays Chinese officers generally are more educated, prosperous, technologically advanced, and untested by hard combat experience. In spite of these dynamic changes within the officer corps, the PLAs combat leadership system appears to have remained largely static. The basic elements of the PLAs combat leadership system are the leaders cadre or officers, the soldiers, and the framework employed to govern interactions between the two. The PLAs political work system provides the structure for its combat leadership capability. Historically, the political work system was effective in harnessing combat power and promoting harmony within the ranks. This system satisfied the soldiers physical needs, engaged his mind through an intensive indoctrination process, and influenced his heart by promoting strong comradely relations. This study examines whether Chinas traditional leadership system will support and motivate the PLAs contemporary officer and his soldiers on future battlefields. It is time for the PLAs political work system to change, however, it is uncertain whether the PLAs leadership recognizes the need for change and is willing to do anything about it. In the end, the PLA cannot save a political work system that is out-of-sync with the demands of information age soldiers and the dynamic economic and social environment of modern China. PLA watchers should balance their attention to weapon systems advances with the more important effort of understanding the people and leadership changes the PLA is experiencing. Understanding the Chinese commander and how he will motivate, lead, and inspire his soldiers in combat is vital. To ignore the PLAs combat leadership system is perilous.