Summary

China's military modernization, under President Xi Jinping, has been marked by reforms that include the restructuring of the PLA into five theater commands: Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern, and Central. These reforms aim to improve joint operations and enhance the PLA's capabilities for modern warfare, focusing on fast decision-making, integrated command systems, and coordination across all branches of the military. The theater commands are strategically aligned with China's security priorities, including regional conflicts, border stability, and global power projection.

With its rise as an economic power, China's growing military capabilities and attempts to project power around the world have kept pace in tandem. The modernization of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) serves at the center of this process as it is responsible for protecting China's expanding strategic interests. President Xi Jinping has introduced radical reforms within the PLA to bring it in line with the country's strategic intentions.

The PLA, established in 1927, has always served as the armed force of the CPC rather than a national army. While the PLA did become the official military of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it remains under the command of the CPC’s Central Military Commission, a party institution more than a state organ, reflecting the PLA’s role in advancing CPC’s interests and objectives over those of a conventional national military. Over the years, it has been extensively modernized and reformed, operating across different domains such as land, sea, air, space, and cyber. A notable feature of this evolution is the establishment of a theater command structure, which replaced the previous military region system in 2016. This restructuring created five theater commands—Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, and Central—each responsible for specific geographic areas.

Central Military Commission (CMC): Leadership and Strategic Oversight

The Central Military Commission (CMC) is the highest governing body of China’s armed forces, effectively integrating the functions of the party and state while ensuring the Chinese Communist Party (CPC ) retains supreme authority. The PLA, including the paramilitary units of People’s Armed Police (PAP), are directed by Xi Jinping through the CMC. The commission has two vice-chairmen and four more members with such a centralist decision-making structure being maintained.

In late 2015, China implemented a significant revamping of its military system, which was part of the reforms in place since the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC in November 2013. The reforms were to be completed entirely by 2020 as they had been prompted by an acute need for modernization. Despite prior reforms, the PLA retained considerable similarities to the Soviet military model established in the 1950s. Chinese leadership recognized the failings of its command structure, hierarchical in nature, and realized it was a critical factor hindering effective joint operations in localized conflicts. The 2015 White Paper emphasized the need to develop capabilities for conducting "informationized local wars," characterized by real-time data integration and networked command systems.

With accelerating warfare dynamics, the PLA continues to concentrate on and invest in imbuing leaders with the authority to make fast battlefield decisions. This strategic adjustment calls for speedy decisions and shorter gaps between data gathering and action during combat while delegating more power to junior officers. Through such reforms, the Chinese leadership is under a keen understanding of the need to transform its military with the capability to manoeuvre effectively in modern warfare.

Reforms are expected to bridge the gap that exists between the legacy command structure of the PLA and modern warfare. With the CPC endorsement of the need for reform that occurred during the Third Plenary Session in November 2013, the CMC set up the Leading Group for Deepening Defense and Military Reforms. This collective - under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, supported by CMC Vice Chairmen Fan Changlong and Xu Qiliang - outlined the key features of the proposed restructuring. In late November 2015, President Xi unveiled much of the structural reforms at a focused three-day meeting, accompanied by more statements in December. The intent was to improve "leadership, administration, and command of joint operations," which ultimately seeks to produce a military capability that can win in modern warfare.

Key features of these reforms include transitioning to theater commands, where the PLA is shifting from seven traditional military regions to five joint operational theaters. Additionally, a new headquarters for ground forces has been established, formally creating the PLA Army (PLAA) as a distinct service, previously integrated into the PLA’s four general departments. On December 31, 2015, the PLA Second Artillery Force (PLASAF) was rebranded as the PLA Rocket Force (PLARF), elevating its status to a full service to highlight its strategic significance. A new branch was also introduced under the CMC to oversee space and cyber operations. The goal was to enhance the PLA’s joint operational capabilities, enabling more effective coordination among different service branches, including the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and Strategic Support Force.

The reform framework lays down authority under the CMC thus bestowing force management on services themselves, while operational commands are exercised by theater headquarters. For the purpose of restructuring, instead of four general departments, there are six joint departments, three commissions, and five offices under the CMC to improve operational efficiency. The Central Military Commission is further strengthening military discipline through reforms of its own Discipline and Inspection Commission, Auditing Office, and the People's Liberation Army's judicial system, parallel to the creation of a new Politics and Law Commission.

PLA's Theater Command System: A Regional Approach to Modern Warfare

The transformation from the original seven Military Regions: Shenyang, Beijing, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Lanzhou, to the new five Theater Commands: Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern, and Central, shows strategic intent aimed at strengthening military activities. Chaired by the CMC, this reconfigured body streamlines military governance but allows theater commands to concentrate on combat preparedness as well as specific development goals of their respective military branches.

Eastern Theater Command

The Eastern Theater Command is one of the most important and influential in China, focusing on Taiwan, the East China Sea, and Japan, and is based out of Nanjing in Jiangsu. This command replaced the former Nanjing Military Region and represents critical maritime regions, overseeing provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shanghai. Its missions include safeguarding China's maritime borders and addressing territorial disputes with Japan over the Senkaku Islands. The ETC is very crucial to regional Chinese supremacy, especially with the recent tensions with Taiwan. Each of the components of the ETC- PLGA, PLAN, and PLAAF, has its roles in numerous operations. The PLAGF 71st, 72nd, and 73rd Group Armies are important while the 73rd Group Army near Taiwan specifically specializes in amphibious operations. The PLAN's East Sea Fleet helps guarantee maritime power projection, while the PLAAF emphasizes air superiority, critical for regional operations.

It is positioned to use the area's geography, such as the Yangtze River, for logistics and potential amphibious operations. The ETC was after the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis in the 1990s focused on enhancing its capabilities to counter the presence of the U.S. and to take control of contentious territories, like the Senkaku Islands. The ETC is critical to joint operation, coordination between the different military arms to conduct an integrated action. Its capacity includes working with the Rocket Force for strategic strikes and the network warfare units to their advantage. This collaboration is badly needed in a possible conflict across the Taiwan Strait or in addressing tensions with Japan.

Southern Theater Command

The Southern Theater Command, headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, oversees military operations in the South China Sea, a region of significant geopolitical importance due to contested waters and vital maritime routes. This region is very central to China's assertion of its "Nine-Dash Line" claim, which has been contentious with several Southeast Asian states, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. This STC branched out from the old Guangzhou Military Region and covers provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Yunnan, and Hainan, whose operational space extends to Hong Kong, Macau, and vast areas in Mainland Southeast Asia, especially Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. This command plays a critical role in managing territorial disputes with Southeast Asian nations and protecting China's economic interests in the South China Sea.

The STC comprises several key components, including ground forces represented by the 74th and 75th Group Armies, supplemented by specialized brigades for amphibious operations and artillery support. Its naval component, the South Sea Fleet, operates surface vessels, submarines, and landing ships crucial to its goal of maintaining and upholding dominance in the South China Sea. The Southern Theater Command Air Force (STCAF) operates a diverse fleet of fighter aircraft, including J-10, J-11, and J-16 fighters, while also operating H-6 bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and UAVs. This air capability greatly enhances the STC's ability to execute surveillance operations and enable joint operations with naval forces.

Western Theater Command

The Western Theater Command (WTC) is the most expansive of China’s new military theaters, headquartered in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. It plays a critical role in ensuring stability in the turbulent regions of Xinjiang and Tibet while overseeing border relations with India. The region's geography is challenging with deserts, high mountains, and long borders that make military logistics and coordination challenging. Internally, the WTC supports the People’s Armed Police Force to maintain stability in Tibet and Xinjiang, often facing social unrest. It is also tasked with disaster relief, which requires collaboration with civilian agencies. Externally, the WTC is critical for handling potential instability in Central Asia, working within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Through the SCO's Peace Mission exercises, it has engaged in combined operations for countering large-scale unrest since 2005. However, the WTC’s primary external focus remains the border with India, which has seen increasing tensions and confrontations.

The WTC's structure includes joint operation capabilities as the PLA, PLAAF, and the newly integrated PLARF combine resources. Their joint operations command center is located in Chengdu, with their theater Army headquarters located in Lanzhou. Logistics support for the Strategic Logistics Support Force is provided from a key center in Xining. Despite these changes, the shift from traditional Army-led regional commands to integrated joint commands is in a state of evolution and requires changes in training and inter-service interaction. The WTC’s external strategy emphasizes readiness for potential conflict scenarios along the disputed Sino-Indian border, including Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh.  The difficult, high-altitude terrain with inadequate infrastructure posed major operational hurdles for large-scale maneuvers and demanded special training. Ground operations were severely hindered by the terrain and rarely extended beyond roads that traversed valleys or served as ridges.

Northern Theater Command

Strategically located to counter potential risks emanating from Russia and North Korea, the Northern Theater Command is headquartered in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. It covers an extensive region ranging over Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang. Its basic tasks include safeguarding borders, conducting cooperative operations with Russian forces, and preparing for emergency situations on the Korean Peninsula. The strategic geography of Liaoning has profoundly influenced military deployment throughout history. The NTC consists of key components such as ground forces represented by the 78th and 79th Group Armies, equipped for rapid deployment and cross-border operations. The integrated air force conducts surveillance and air defense missions to protect China’s northern borders, with exercises aimed at enhancing interoperability with Russian forces underscoring the growing military cooperation between the two countries. Northeast China has significant strategic value because it is very rich in economic resources, especially coal and petroleum. And, Daqing is home to the country's largest oil field.

The Dandong crossing is of prime importance for trade as well as crisis management, and the NTC has to guard this region. The units that were part of the Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Jilin regions came under the Shenyang Military Region whereas in Shandong, it was the Jinan Military Region; thus, creating strategic coordination on the Korean Peninsula. Recent PLA reorganization reduced the number of Group Armies, changing the NTC's structure and further streamlining command by retaining the 26th, 16th, and 39th Group Armies while demobilizing obsolete formations. The 39th Group Army in Liaoyang comprises upgraded units such as the 9th Army Aviation Brigade armed with Z-19 and Z-10 helicopters, and it may expand to bolster command along North Korean and Russian borders.

The North Fleet of the PLA Navy, located in Qingdao, is equipped with sophisticated systems such as nuclear submarines and the aircraft carrier Liaoning, whereas naval aviation units are pivotal for prospective carrier operations. The air force, vital for maintaining air defense, comprises advanced fighter units that are strategically arranged to facilitate upgrades. Furthermore, the PLA Rocket Force, situated in Shenyang, assumes a deterrent function, with launch brigades adept at targeting U.S. forces in proximity to Yokosuka. The NTC sustains its readiness for possible domestic unrest in North Korea that may impact regional stability.

Central Theater Command

The Central Theater Command, which includes the Beijing area, is crucial for political and military operations. Headquartered in Beijing, this command is directly linked to the CMC and plays a pivotal role in protecting the Chinese capital and overseeing military logistics and support operations. Its operational responsibilities extend to safeguarding key infrastructure and strategic assets, ensuring the PLA's effectiveness in managing internal security challenges. The CTC comprises multiple group armies and specialized units responsible for internal security and emergency response. It focuses on enhancing the PLA's readiness to respond to domestic threats and external challenges. The CTC is essential for maintaining operational effectiveness and ensuring political stability within the context of broader military strategies.

The restructuring of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) marks a crucial evolution aimed at enhancing both political control and operational efficiency. While these reforms are designed to create a more agile and cohesive force capable of executing complex joint operations, they are not without challenges. Issues such as the historical dominance of ground forces in leadership positions, existing interservice rivalries, and a general lack of combat experience could impede the PLA's transition to a fully integrated joint force. The success of these reforms will largely hinge on the PLA’s ability to address these internal dynamics and cultivate a culture of collaboration among its various branches. As China works to strengthen its military capabilities, the outcomes of this restructuring will play a critical role in determining the PLA's effectiveness in both regional and global security frameworks.

Author

Trishala S

Trishala S is a Junior Research Associate at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). Holding an undergraduate degree from FLAME University, she specialized in Sociology with a minor in Public Policy. Possessing a profound interest in the intricate dynamics of socio-political landscapes and policy realms, she seeks to dissect their complexities. Her pursuits extend to the exploration of the intersections between demography, gender studies, urban studies, activism, and legal dimensions, reflecting a multifaceted engagement with pressing societal issues. She can be reached at trishalasasianandkumar@gmail.com