Military Supply Chain Management and People's Liberation Army Logistics by Rajiv Chauhan

Author:Rajiv Chauhan [Chauhan, Rajiv]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Technology & Engineering, Military, Political Science, History, Military Science, General
ISBN: 9789384464486
Google: YxTMtQEACAAJ
Goodreads: 58668054
Publisher: VIJ BOOKS INDIA
Published: 2017-12-12T00:00:00+00:00

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PLA Logistics:

Historical Background & Evolution

Introduction

Of the myriad of modernization challenges the People‘s Liberation Army (PLA) faces to prepare to fight a modern, regional war under high tech conditions, logistics is one of the most complex. If the PLA hopes to realize even a limited, power projection capability, likely based around Rapid Reaction Units and other key assets, it must develop an effective joint logistics capability. Without this, Chinas conventional regional deterrent and its ability to underwrite its key national security objectives could be affected.

The PLA has targeted improved logistics to support joint combat as the main goal of its logistics reforms. This will be challenged by the realities of a large multi-generation inventory of equipment, limited resources, and influences and distractions from the PLAs continuing and unique involvement in administrative logistics, production, and support to the Chinese economy.

How the PLA, in general, and the General Logistics Department (GLD), in particular, address these challenges to transform PLA logistics into a high tech joint support system remains to be seen. Since Chinas ability to project military power will depend upon its logistics capabilities, it is a critical area to investigate. But assessments and measurements of the PLAs success or failure should avoid simplistic and direct comparisons to other modern military logistics systems especially evolving Western logistics systems.

Analysts should avoid assessments based on perennially limited information, that habitually disdain PLA logistics as a historically weak link. On the contrary, PLA logistics have proven highly adaptable and flexible to the situation. Often PLA logistics was not “reliable.” It lacked efficiency, expended excessive personnel and other resources, or it failed to support decisive engagements. Significant shortfalls do exist. Nonetheless, PLA logistics has been proficient in providing sufficient operations support to massive numbers of personnel and equipment of mixed generations and origins. Their efforts to achieve a sufficiently effective joint logistics system with Chinese characteristics warrant sustained objective analysis.

Organizational History

In the armed forces of developing countries, logistics has consistently been the slowest component to develop. Yet, logistics provide one of the greatest constraints upon the buildup of these forces beyond a certain point. Modern China has proven no exception. Logistics was a central weakness of the Nationalist military/Communist military forces.

PLA logistics has been shaped by the unique political and economic history of the Peoples Republic of China. Through its support of internal revolution, repelling Japanese invaders and periodic border conflicts, as well as its deep involvement in national economic development, the PLA logistics system has developed distinctive characteristics. These will affect its latest modernization effort, which seeks nothing less than credible joint support of combat operations.

The development of PLA logistics has been particularly influenced by key experiences within four phases since the founding of the PLA:

• Revolutionary and Anti-Japanese Experience (1930s-1949)

• Korean War and Soviet Alliance and Assistance during the 1950s

• Political Struggle and Modernization (1959-1979): Troubles North and South (Sino-Soviet Border Conflicts 1968 and Sino-Vietnam Border War)

• 1980-1989 - Opening to the West

• 1990-Gulf War, Taiwan

Revolutionary and Anti-Japanese Experience (1930-1949)

According to a Chinese reference, military logistics was established in the Red Army at the time of the founding of the Army.

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