The Management System of the Chinese is Changing: What Problem does Beijing Pursue

• 05.14.2016, 14:24
• Naira Mkrtchyan
•  Asia,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  Info

Last week it became known that the President of China became commander-in-chief of the Joint Command Headquarters (JCH) of the Central Military Commission (CMC). It should be mentioned that this country previously did not have commander-in-chief.

The President of China is also the President of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, the President of Central Military Council, and now also commander-in-chief. China's former presidents put the responsibility of this position on professional soldiers, but now, in fact, one man will concentrate the command of the troops in his hands.

What is the reason for such a decision?

The president of China Xi Jinping himself explains the need for this change by the fact that everything should be done to improve the ability of the management of military operations, and the criteria is the ability to fight and win wars.

In the sphere of army-building, management of armed forces from one center is obsereved. Until 2020 it is planned to create a central command and all the armed forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), ie, ground troops, strategic nuclear forces, air forces and navy will be subject to it. It is also expected to reduce the number of PLA (it is 2.3 million) to 300 thousand, and the saved money direct to the modernization of strategic nuclear forces, air forces and navy. The number of the large military districts will be reduced from seven to four.

The reason for such a change is connected with the change in tactics. If previously the Soviet army was a model for the PLA, and the goal was to defend China from the invasion now the problem is different: to transform the army into a modern military machine, which is able to project its power far from the borders of China, for example, the Middle East and Africa.

In other words, the Chinese army is similar to the US armed forces. Beijing realized the need for army reform in 1991 after the Gulf War, when the coordinated activities of American forces resulted in the defeat of Saddam Hussein's army.

The Chinese have studied the American experience quite well, and its elements are reflected in the reforms of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.