The People’s Liberation Army – A Re-Emerging Player
Introduction
The previous post on the New Cold War enunciated the dynamics of recent developments in the region with regional and global ramifications. This post elaborates upon the reasons for this shift in Chinese foreign policy towards belligerence and how PLA is playing a major role in shaping this foreign policy of China.
China’s recent belligerence in its relations with USA and South Korea in the South China Sea, with India on the Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh issue and the recent tussle with Japan over the trawler incident are indicative of growing Chinese assertiveness in its foreign policy to safeguard or protect its national interests. Earlier in the year, PLA had apparently influenced a CMC proposal to warn US of arms sales to Taiwan. Add to this the growing Chinese military presence in Gulf of Aden, Tibet and POK and one gets a take that the influence of PLA or PLAN in shaping China’s foreign policy has increased many fold. As per recent reports in Reuters, the civil military relations in China may be under strain.
Type 99 Tank
In a path breaking study SIPRI has explored the role of PLA in shaping Chinese foreign policy. As per the research, the PLA has historically been and continues to be a major player in Chinese foreign policy making as are the armed forces of most nations. However, its role had been substantially narrowed by decades of institutional reform, focused on the professionalization of the armed forces and the distancing of military leaders from civilian decision making processes. The post draws heavily from the SIPRI Research Paper Number 26 and in some instances has echoed the spirit of the research.
The PLA still holds sway in these and other defence related foreign policy issues, particularly with respect to policies related to strategic arms, territorial disputes and national security towards countries such as India, Japan, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the USA. In particular, the PLA is a staunch advocate of a hard line towards Taiwan and perceived US interference in cross-Strait relations.
Understanding Chinese Higher Defence Organisation
As the highest Communist Party of China (CPC) body overseeing defence policy and military strategy, the Central Military Commission(CMC) is responsible for the unified command of the Chinese armed forces. It remains an important channel for PLA influence on foreign policy. Meetings of the entire CMC, held on average six times per year and lasting for several days, are the most significant institutionalized interaction the PLA has with China’s supreme leader (who in recent history has also usually been the CMC chairman). Hu Jintao is presently the only civilian on the 11-member commission.
While the CMC, like the PLA as a whole, has historically been dominated by the ground forces, in 2002 the air force, navy and Second Artillery Corps (China’s strategic missile forces) were each given CMC representation. This reflected their elevated status and their role in foreign policy formulation as the PLA branches responsible for new or enhanced military capabilities and strategic programmes, including anti-satellite and ballistic missile defence tests and overseas naval deployments.
Substantial portions of PLA views are transmitted to civilian leaders via internal, non-public channels. The National Defence University and the Academy of Military Science, which are represented on the CMC, submit reports directly to the military leadership.
Involvement of PLA Officers in Public Debates – an Interesting Trend
Professionalization of the PLA has neither led to reluctance on the part of military officers to become involved in public foreign policy debates nor resulted in the emergence of a monolithic PLA pressure group on Chinese foreign policy issues. On the contrary, in recent years the PLA has increasingly tried to influence the public debate about national security issues by publicly disseminating analysis by PLA research institutions as well as allowing officers to write divergent commentaries in prominent newspapers and serve as television commentators.
The PLA has also actively cultivated relationships with civilian researchers by allowing officers to participate in debates at civilian research institutions and inviting civilian researchers to lecture at and take part in PLA workshops.
The combined effect of professionalism and international contact has somewhat de-emphasized the ideological outlook of the PLA. As a result, it is envisioned that the PLA is adopting new perceptions of Chinese national interests and viewing itself as the final guarantor of those national interests. Experts expect the mindset of the military to develop along a dual-track trajectory with regard to national interests: one track that becomes more nationalistic and another that becomes more willing to engage in international cooperation and dialogue. The PLA’s interactions with foreign militaries have enabled China to emphasize the peaceful nature of its development and also at times to express China’s displeasure with the policies of other countries, notably by cancelling military-to-military contacts with the USA.
Crisis Management in Foreign Policy
Whether there are any signs of discord between the PLA and the civil leadership is not certain. However, on several occasions over the past decade the PLA has initiated, escalated or delayed tense international situations (whether intentionally or not)—for example, in 2001, after a US reconnaissance plane made an emergency landing on Hainan Island, and in 2007, after the PLA shot down a Chinese weather satellite.
Within the PLA the PLAN bears special weight-age because of the maritime dimensions of Chinese security strategy and its impact on the political process.
PLAN ships
The PLAN has in recent years been party to repeated disputes with Japan, South East Asian countries and the USA over maritime sovereignty in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. PLAN submarines have also been active outside Chinese waters, illegally entering Japanese territorial waters while submerged in 2004 and repeatedly shadowing US naval ships. It is unclear whether these cases represent isolated incidents or a deliberate campaign to force the political leadership to take a stand on what the PLA perceives as China’s core interests, given how little is known about the Chinese chain of command in military events related to foreign policy.
Conclusion
The analysis points towards a growing assertiveness of Chinese military in directing its foreign policy. The PLA and PLAN, despite focusing on issues of modernization under conditions of informationalisation are violating SunTzu’s principles and Mao’s advice of a peaceful rise. Apparently, as is the wont in most nations, the CPC intends keeping CMC tied to the pole but as the events indicate, it is largely getting marginalized by the PLA and PLAN. Whether there is a rift and would it impact Chinese foreign policy in the long term is not tough to surmise but the opacity of the Chinese system makes it difficult to fathom contradictions, if any.
Due to a lack of information, changes in the roles of the Ministry of State Security and the PLA are the most difficult to assess. The combination of expanding interaction between China and the global community, intensifying international scrutiny of China’s behaviour, and worsening tensions in minority areas within China have resulted in more funds and prestige for the Ministry of State Security, thereby elevating its status among foreign policy shapers. As for the PLA, the extent to which it has been distanced from foreign policy making is debated inside and outside of China; there are both Chinese and foreign experts who consider the PLA a re-emerging player.
Related Articles
- Factbox: China’s civilian-military ties (reuters.com)
- Analysis: China military risks treading on policy toes (reuters.com)
- U.S., Asean to Push Back Against China (online.wsj.com)
- Concern Grows Over Aggressive Chinese Navy (waronterrornews.typepad.com)
The Armed Forces of a nation are an instrument of foreign policy. It is thus natural for the PLA to be a major player in foreign policy. We on the other hand have slept through with the net result we have a string of pearls around our neck. The Chinese have now beaten us at it again in Nepal, where we had a primary role, Sri Lanka for whom we shed blood and Burma also. There is a need to have think tanks and foreign policy debates and get the forces view also. An integerated debate and not Police specialist Security advisors are reqiured
CSThapa
Brig (Retd)
An integerated debate and not Police specialist Security advisors are reqiured
Charlie Sir
We reckon you have not been regular with this site. Search for china or india on the site and you will find that this is one in aseries of articles debating the indian malfeasance in rejecting its armed forces a place in shaping its foreign policy, or even national security policies.
We would welcome your participation in this debate.
some articles are here and here
Brig Thapa
We have a China problem, a Pakistan problem, a string of pearls with five fingers and every conceivable internal security disorder but no involvement of armed forces i policy shaping or making. Have you often wondered why?
It is because our senior officers lack the depth and gumption to handle the babus and politicians at the cost of the country. Recall the Chetwodian motto…we have replaced country with careers. Rest no change.
What the article terms as the growing assertiveness of Chinese military in directing its foreign policy is nothing but a nation with clear focus on the direction it wants to go co-opting its forces in the planning process . It is not the PLA ‘asserting’ but the govt permitting it to do so . Notice how it says “Substantial portions of PLA views are transmitted to civilian leaders via internal, non-public channels. The National Defence University and the Academy of Military Science, which are represented on the CMC, submit reports directly to the military leadership.” This is a healthy process of the army( PLA) being allowed to project its views to the govt, and vice versa .
The rejuvenated chinese dragon is coming out of hibernation and roaring / flexing its newfound PLA muscle to mark its territory in the world . A healthy process in a healthy nation .
Is India listening ?
Is there higher direction on anything ? NO , Judgeing by the CWG .
There is something called our National security council supposedly existing . Does it exist anymore ! Im not even sure if I got that name right, afterall who remembers a dodo ? Have we ever had the chiefs of staff to advise it . Search me . Is there any interaction between the chiefs and the government ? Search me . The last time a chief spoke about the possibility of a two front war he got a tap on his knuckles from the defence minister . Are the armed forces in a high state of morale ? Who knows ? Judgeing by press reports they are still fighting to get what the government cheated them out of way back in 1986 . There is also something called the OROP . And ofcourse the army is livid with being blamed for the 100 civilians it did NOT kill in Kashmir .
The good thing is that our armed forces have a life of their own , planning and preparing with what they have . A bunch of Rajputs who have sensibly retained the brains of the British . If they know how to die they also know how to win .
You make very relevant observations. Time we seriously changed our stance to security
The running of the country has been outsourced to ministers, no questions asked on what they do .
The railway minister runs trains and his ministry to suit herself or her constituency so that her future relection is ensured . It is not done for the COUNTRY . The PM does not vet what she proposes !
Kashmir has been festering because the home minister thinks it has been outsourced to Farooq and J&K is being given tons of money , NOT realising there is someone across the border who seizes every little disturbance and magnifies it to explosion levels . That we need to educate the simple kashmiris that living behind the 370 is the best deal going for them .They only have to accept 370 and there would be no need for army, Afspa , CRPf or anybody else to breathe down their neck .
The CWG was on the cards since 2003 , it was an event to showcase India shining to the world . But the PM issues no direction whatever nor carries out any checks . It was outsourced to Kalmadi and no questions asked for the next five years .CM sheila dixit , sports minister gill leave Kalmadi to fend for himself. The nero on top continues to fiddle with his GDP. Five months ago the media latches on to a humoungous mess in the making . Even then the Nero does nothing claiming the CWG is an independant body and govt cant interfere ! Hello ,What happened to showcasing India, is that also kalmadis job ?! What about the public money spent on Delhi ? This hindi movie also has a joker ,a minister who openly goes about saying he wishes the CWG would fail !
The Maoist problem was initially outsourced to the states in whose compost heap the maos grew and planned their larger game . The home minister then got into the act and we are still debating whether it is the states or the centre who should be sorting them out . In this movie we have a villian , a cabinet minister( no less) who says the maoists are right ! She continues to remain in the cabinet !
The Nero on top has no word on discipline or loyalty for the joker or the villian .
Then there is our sugar which has been outsourced to the Agri/food minister . He exports sugar when their is a shortage in country . No questions asked of him .
Maharashtra has been outsourced to a mafia which defies the indian constitution .
Lastly , even after 26/11 and the fact that we are the next country most vulnerable after the US , we still do not have a federal anti terror law ! We havent even passed the police act to enable it to function efficiently .
The CBI ofcourse has been outsourced to the govt in power .
Way back in 73 this country made a mistake not accepting Indira Gandhis suggestion for a presidential form of democracy . Atleast the man on top would not have had to outsource the country . Witness how O Bama got into the act immediately when the BP oil spill hit ?
The PLA’s place in China’s National Security System and its involvement in framing foreign policy must not be seen as something un-natural or aloarming. Talks of rift between China’s mil and its civ leadership is nonsense. Instances of disagreement and debate amongst different components of a System is a natural process of evaluating various strategy and policy options while seeking to counter or leverage dynamically emerging internal, regional or global developments and pursuing national security objectives. That we in India have not been able to integrate the professionals military interface in our national security decision making, is the glaring proof of our inadequate sense of nationhood. The coninuing malaise is an outcome of:-
A. A pacifist belief in in India being an ‘Unsinkable Ship’ which God will always keep afloat OR even if it sinks, Indians can temporarily take shelter in any other country of their choice till the God again pulls it back to surface.
B. A belief amongst the politico-bureacratic class that they exist to regulate all national endeavours with sole purpose of enriching themselves and their ilk, remaining in firm belief that security disasters will not happen in their tenure of duty. The bigger problem is that this class is reproducing at a much higher rate than all other class in Indian soceity.
C. The bureaucracy continuing to remain the termites who fool the ignorant and self serving politician and convince them of “All is Well” and prevent them from applying anti-termite treatment to the structure of national governance including the national security apparatus.
D. An expanding class of pseudo-intellectuals, commentators and media barons who assume their competence at commenting on all national security issues based on having attended a foreign agency sponsored seminar; reading a book by a foreign author; writing some cut-paste dissertation for a PhD under a guide who remains outdated with emerging security dynamics; or just having become a celebrity. This bunch which comprises the “mutual appreciation soceity of the half educated” who seek to influence the govt decision making which itself remains in the hands of neoprofessionals (bureaucrats + city policing experts + political intelligence gatherers) and ill-educated (especially on complex national security issues) and gullible politicians with visions confined in timel;ine until next elections.