Chinese Military Modernization and its Impact on India s National Security by 2030

Abstract

The People s Republic of China was established in 1949 under the Chairmanship of Mao Ze Dong. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) defeated General Chiang Kai Shek and formed the country. Thereafter the Chinese fought three wars on the concept of Peoples War in which mass of soldiers attacked in human waves. It was in their War with Vietnam in 1979, that they realised they needed to change their strategy of fighting wars. This was done under the great visionary leader Deng Xiao Ping. Deng brought about the four modernisations and also changed the strategy of fighting to Active Defence. The wakeup call for modernisation came from the First Gulf War in 1991, where 500 new technologies were used. The shock and awe produced by these campaigns stirred the PLA and compelled it to undertake a Revolution in Military Affairs. The areas which were focussed were on Information Dominance, Long Range Precision Strike, Sensor to Shooter Links, Navigation Systems, upgrading the Navy, Air Force and the Second Artillery. The present modernisation has resulted in the PLA graduating in fighting a full spectrum conventional conflict under a nuclear overhang. The priorities for modernisation encompass all the four services but greater priority is being accorded to the Navy, Air Force and the Second Artillery. The timelines are based on their priorities to resolve contentious issues. The estimates are as under:- Resolve unification of Taiwan by 2020 to 2025. Need for Anti Access and Area Denial capabilities. Solution to the disputes in South China Sea between 2025 to 2030.Boundary dispute in Tibet by 2035 to 2040. Find means to solve the dispute on East China Sea islands between 2040 and 2045.Sort out issues on Outer Mongolia in the period 2045 to 2050.Try and get back territory lost to Russia between 2050 to 2055. The focus of their modernisation is to ensure that they are able to attain their objectives by deterring their opponents who are subdued and agree to their issues without fighting.