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focus on achieving parity with the U.S. military. Hu
and Jian knew that if this transformation were implemented
correctly, it would permit a precise logistics
flow to PLA units.
Recent Progress
PLA logistics has suffered from the axiom “do more
with less” since the 1930s. Since transforming from
the Soviet-era doctrine of heavy units with little mobility
to the HBCT format, the interest in matching the
capabilities of logistics units to those of the maneuver
elements has increased. The GLD took charge of this
ongoing modernization process. After the creation of
the GLD, the PLA received new combat uniforms and
protective equipment and maneuver units were given
field feeding assets. However, PLA units still lack
high-mobility transportation assets, modular equipment,
and automated tracking systems, and the PLA
still has not developed logistics packages that can support
the HBCT concept.
During the Sino-Vietnamese War, PLA soldiers
could not forage for food, so they started to receive
moderate rations of eggs and rice near the end of the
conflict. Insufficient field feeding capability still
exists in the PLA, but the GLD is attempting to solve
the problems by mandating that company-sized elements
receive two to three garrison meals per week.
Contracted civilian companies have been employed to
provide better meals, and the PLA will soon receive
new mobile containerized kitchens that can feed 4 hot
meals per day to up to 300 soldiers.
Improvements to the PLA’s procurement process
have also been successful. During the summer of
2004, the PLA and civilians in northeast China held a
successful training event that focused on implementing
the transformation of field feeding and the procurement
of supplies through civilian sources. The overall
success of that event has led to the employment of a
supply chain management system and an increased
reliance on civilian support.
Privatizing Like the U.S. Military
The privatization of several components of PLA
logistics is similar to how the U.S. military shifted
many of its own logistics responsibilities to private
sector vendors. During the 1970s, the U.S. military
transferred portions of its contracting, purchasing, and
delivery responsibilities to civilian companies. Likewise,
the PLA and GLD are making progress toward
privatizing procurement, transportation, and building
construction and maintenance. To fix the shortfall for
the time being, the PLA bought enough lift assets from
Russia to move a division’s worth of personnel and supplies
to any province in mainland China and to remote
parts of the world. The long-term solution lies with
ARMY LOGISTICIAN PROFESSIONAL BULLETIN OF UNITED STATES ARMY LOGISTICS
the civilian sector defense industry, which will produce
enough lift capability to move three corps by 2012.
Military and Civilian Cooperation
The PLA’s shift to a more modern logistics system
will be gradual. This can be partially attributed to
China’s political and economic structures. Distrust
between the PLA and China’s civilian populace is
deeply rooted because of the last 100 years of political
turbulence. In 1907, the Chinese were still living in the
last days of the Qing Dynasty, which lasted until China
transformed into a republic in 1911. The republic
The catalyst for change in
Chinese logistics was the
need to keep pace with
U.S. military transformation.
lasted until 1949, when the Communist Revolution, led
by Mao Zedong, pushed Chiang Kai-shek’s republican
forces to the island of Taiwan. Political instability led
to other mistakes and to the people’s distrust of Chinese
military forces and political leaders.
Now, as China expands its regional presence, both
civilian and military leaders can see the larger picture
and are putting aside their distrust. The civilian leaders
see the opportunity to grow the Chinese economy, and
the PLA sees the opportunity to increase its military
strength. These similar goals have now brought these
two parts of the People’s Republic of China together,
which facilitates transformation and modernization.
The PLA’s current modernization campaign will
enable China to support future offensive operations
outside of its mainland. PLA precision logistics is
modernizing rapidly. U.S. military logisticians should
take note of China’s current and future capabilities so
that they may assist with future U.S. operations planning.
As an ancient Chinese maxim states, “If you
know your enemies and know yourself, you will win a
hundred times in a hundred battles. If you only know
yourself, but not your opponent, you win one and lose
the next. If you do not know yourself or your enemy,
you will always lose.” ALOG
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