Military reform will strengthen China -- and Xi

Subject

Restructuring China's military.

Significance

The Central Military Commission (CMC) has unveiled an ambitious blueprint to restructure the People's Liberation Army (PLA), streamline its cumbersome bureaucracy and modernise its command apparatus. The plans include the establishment of a unified command structure and the demobilisation of at least 300,000 personnel.

Impacts

• A more efficient command-and-control system will be necessary to achieve the goal of equalling the US military by 2049.
• Restructuring will allow more effective use of the military to support diplomatic goals such as assertion of maritime claims.
• If discontent among military officers undermines Xi's authority, this would render him less able to push forward economic reforms.