Chinese Defence Reforms and Lessons for India

Abstract

Since the formation of the People's Republic of China (PRC), China's defence forces have evolved through various stages of modernisation with a focus on doctrinal changes, structural reforms, as well as reduction of forces. Post Mao era, the first sincere attempt to infuse professionalism in the outdated People's Liberation Army (PLA) commenced in the true sense when ‘national defence' was made one of the ‘Four Modernisations,' as announced by Deng Xiaoping in 1978. This boost towards military modernisation was catalysed by the reduced threat perception post disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 and greater allocation in the defence budget for upgradation post 1995, as boosted by an improved Chinese economy.