Angry Chinese Blogger
 |
 |
Angry Chinese Blogger:
The news and views about China that the big media can't, or won't, tell you The is no single truth Menu: Home |
|
Entries By Country
   |
Bigger isn't always better
posted Wednesday, 11 January 2006
At a time of heightened global tension over terrorism and militarism, when countries like America and Britain are fast seeking to bulk up their armies with new recruits and reservists in order to meet their international commitments. It seems rather incongruous that China, an emerging military superpower, should be doing the exact opposite. However, that is exactly what has happened.
According to reports, released through China's state controlled media, the PLA; China's de-facto military, have announced the completion of a downsizing exercise which has seen it shed some 200,000 men-at-arms.
Officially, the troop reductions were made to "improve the quality and structure of the forces and improve troops combat readiness" and are known come as part of a three year restructuring plan which was announced in 2003, which is, in itself, part of a greater military realignment that has seen China's armed forced reduced in size by approximately 1.7 million men over the last two decades.
Reports indicate that most of the cuts have been made among ground troop, and are thought to be centered on infantry and other low-level 'foot soldiers', rather than officers, engineers or other specialists.
Estimate now put the PLA's total number of men-at-between arms 2.3 and 2.5 million. Significantly lower than the 4.2 million men that it is reported to have possessed during the cold war.
Paradoxical Reasoning
While some might look at China's manpower reductions and point to them as being an indicator that China is becoming less hostile, and other's may be inclined to celebrate them as being a sign that China's military strength is crumbling under the weight of its economic commitments, more informed China watchers have however been quick to point out that, far from making China's military weaker, these reductions actually serve to strengthen China's military hand, and to bring it closer to being a force able to directly challenge the other powers operating in Asia.
Less is More
While, at first, it may seem paradoxical - reducing troop number to increase military strength - it make eminent tactical sense for China.
By reducing troop numbers, Beijing has been able to make substantial cost savings. Savings which have been ploughed back into the military budget. Allowing China to purchase more advanced equipment for its remaining troops, to concentrate its training efforts in more specialist areas; including special forces and electronic warfare, and to boost its R&D spending. All without necessitating an increase in total military budget.
Savings include reduced spending on:
Alternate Angles
While military sources, both in the east and west, including those within China, have summarily backed up the principle - that China has indeed been cutting troop number in order to free up resources and to raise the overall quality of its forces - there have been a number of alternative opinions expressed as to the reasoning behind China's troop reductions and the motives that spurred such radical departure from the traditional Chinese military thinking that 'manpower alone would allow China to wear down an opponent through constant attrition'.
As such, some observers have voiced that Chinese troop reductions may in actual fact contain a large element of self-protection, and come in response to a very real fear; 'That a large domestic army, under the control of politically ambitious Generals, might posse a greater threat to Beijing than an external force.'
Sound Reasoning
Though such a fear is one of the contributing factors as to why a number of countries, most nobably Britain, have never historically maintained a large standing army, and it is known that there have been fears of mutiny within China's armed fores in the past, in this instance, it is widely believed that this fear is only secondary or even tertiary concern.
As such cost cutting is still though to be the primary factor behind Chinese troop reductions.
According to reports, released through China's state controlled media, the PLA; China's de-facto military, have announced the completion of a downsizing exercise which has seen it shed some 200,000 men-at-arms.
Officially, the troop reductions were made to "improve the quality and structure of the forces and improve troops combat readiness" and are known come as part of a three year restructuring plan which was announced in 2003, which is, in itself, part of a greater military realignment that has seen China's armed forced reduced in size by approximately 1.7 million men over the last two decades.
Reports indicate that most of the cuts have been made among ground troop, and are thought to be centered on infantry and other low-level 'foot soldiers', rather than officers, engineers or other specialists.
Estimate now put the PLA's total number of men-at-between arms 2.3 and 2.5 million. Significantly lower than the 4.2 million men that it is reported to have possessed during the cold war.
Paradoxical Reasoning
While some might look at China's manpower reductions and point to them as being an indicator that China is becoming less hostile, and other's may be inclined to celebrate them as being a sign that China's military strength is crumbling under the weight of its economic commitments, more informed China watchers have however been quick to point out that, far from making China's military weaker, these reductions actually serve to strengthen China's military hand, and to bring it closer to being a force able to directly challenge the other powers operating in Asia.
Less is More
While, at first, it may seem paradoxical - reducing troop number to increase military strength - it make eminent tactical sense for China.
By reducing troop numbers, Beijing has been able to make substantial cost savings. Savings which have been ploughed back into the military budget. Allowing China to purchase more advanced equipment for its remaining troops, to concentrate its training efforts in more specialist areas; including special forces and electronic warfare, and to boost its R&D spending. All without necessitating an increase in total military budget.
Savings include reduced spending on:
- Troop wages
- Military training
- Combat and non combat equipment
- Barracks, food and lodging
Alternate Angles
While military sources, both in the east and west, including those within China, have summarily backed up the principle - that China has indeed been cutting troop number in order to free up resources and to raise the overall quality of its forces - there have been a number of alternative opinions expressed as to the reasoning behind China's troop reductions and the motives that spurred such radical departure from the traditional Chinese military thinking that 'manpower alone would allow China to wear down an opponent through constant attrition'.
As such, some observers have voiced that Chinese troop reductions may in actual fact contain a large element of self-protection, and come in response to a very real fear; 'That a large domestic army, under the control of politically ambitious Generals, might posse a greater threat to Beijing than an external force.'
Sound Reasoning
Though such a fear is one of the contributing factors as to why a number of countries, most nobably Britain, have never historically maintained a large standing army, and it is known that there have been fears of mutiny within China's armed fores in the past, in this instance, it is widely believed that this fear is only secondary or even tertiary concern.
As such cost cutting is still though to be the primary factor behind Chinese troop reductions.
View Comments/Add a Comment (5)
1. MeiZhongTai left...
Wednesday, 11 January 2006 11:33 pm :: http://meizhongtai.blogspot.com
An American general, when asked about the Global Defense Posture Review
stated that one must evaluate military forces by "capabilities, not
numbers." Likewise, your analysis is dead-on that these cuts make the PLA a
more formidable fighting force (especially since mobility is so low for the
current oversized force). Further cuts will likely follow.
2. ACB left...
Thursday, 12 January 2006 12:01 am :: http://angrychineseblogger.blog-city.com
Right up until the gulf war, it was China's official military phelosify
that it would wage a war of attrition against an enemy (most Chinese are
still taught that this was how China supposidly beat Japan), and that it
didn't need a mobile force because it would have enough forces to wage a
gurilla bassed war over much of the country.
3. GZ Guy left...
Friday, 13 January 2006 12:13 pm
Actually, it won't be "foot soldier" grunt types. Rather it will be the
useless dancers, singers and performers that do those silly New Years
propaganda programs and serve (probably) as a mobile buffet brothel for the
higher ranks and CMC/CCP leaders.
4. The Angry Chinese Blogger left...
Friday, 13 January 2006 5:21 pm :: http://angrychineseblogger.blog-city.com
I sense much skepticism within you young Padawan, seek further guidance you
must.
5. GZ Guy left...
Tuesday, 17 January 2006 12:04 pm
Actually, yes. In many cases, American generals, when not on official
business, must drive their own privately purchased cars. Not a S600
provided by the "danwei" for them to carry over conveniently into
retirement or business...