China’s Military Reform: Prospects and Challenges

This paper examines the military reform thought of China’s new collective leadership under Chairman Xi Jinping. The goal of reform is to modernize the military organizational structure by, among other measures, optimizing its structure, promoting a joint operational command system, and improving the coordinated development of both civilian and military sectors. The paper considers the main drivers necessitating military reform before arguing that China faces considerable challenges along the reform path – not least vested interests and outdated concepts – which will have to be overcome.