China's Military: The People's Liberation Army (PLA)

reportActive / Technical Report | Accesssion Number: AD1147499 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The two-million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the military arm of the People's Republic of China's (PRC's) ruling Communist Party. The Trump Administration identified strategic competition with China and Russia as "the primary concern in U.S. national security" in 2018 and U.S. defense officials have since said that China is the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD's) top priority. According to a 2020 DOD report, the PLA has "already achieved parity with - or even exceeded - the United States" in several areas in which it has focused its military modernization efforts and is strengthening its ability to "counter an intervention by an adversary in the Indo-Pacific region and project power globally." See also IF11712 on U.S.-China Military-to-Military Relations.

Author(s):
Campbell, Caitlin
Author Organization(s):
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC
Funding Organization(s):
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC, WASHINGTON DC , DC
Document Type:
Technical Report/Congressional Report
Publication Date:
2021 Jan 05
Pagination:
3

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution Code:
A - Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement: Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Subject Terms
Modernization Areas:
Space
Communities of Interest:
Weapons Technologies
Descriptor(s):
national security, department of defense, logistics, military operations, security, military capabilities, military strategy, united states, warfare, air force, air forces (foreign), command and control, congress, governments, logistics support, military forces (foreign), supply chain
Keyword(s):
PLA(PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY), PRC(PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA)
Subject Categories:
Military Sciences
Creation Date:
2021 Sep 20
Update Date:
2021 Sep 30