Restructuring of Military Regions by China and its Implications for India

Abstract

Restructuring of Military Regions by China entails both structural and personal adjustments in response to changing security and geo political environment. The Chinese military reform would initiate a real top-tobottom transformation from the Central Military Commission (CMC) to the company level. It will affect the military’s institutional structure such as the General Staff HQ, similar to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, enabled with the capability to fight and win modern high tech wars having a more centralised command and control structure. The geopolitical implications of this restructuring will have far reaching consequences, especially in the neighborhood. The military restructuring enables China in preparing to fight modern wars which today have become a more high-tech being fought at the five dimensions of Land, Air, Sea, Space and Cyber. The restructuring of its military regions is much more than to simply ensure a more efficient command and control system. The fact that this military reform would make the People Liberation Army (PLA) a more agile, combat ready and a leaner force with the capabilities to fight and win modern high-tech wars. India needs to step-up the pace of its own military reforms and it becomes vital for India to build its military capabilities against any unforeseen future conflict with China.