"Two Hands" PLA

Artillery part of the Nanjing Military Region conducted large-scale exercises near the Yellow Sea using long-range rocket launchers... A command post and part of the equipment of one of the armored brigades of the Jinan Military Region were transferred to the coastal city of the Jiaodong Peninsula, where they immediately began conducting a mock battle. The exercises became an important training in the transfer of troops by air transport... Another military exercise was held in the waters of the East China Sea, in which dozens of ships of the South fleet Navy PLA. The exercises made it possible to verify the combat effectiveness of fleet force groupings under actions in difficult conditions of electromagnetic radiation ...

These brief messages, transmitted on Thursday by the PRC news agencies, indicate that the soldiers of this country meet their holiday, the Day of the Formation of the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA), which is celebrated on August 1, in military everyday life. The army’s newspaper “Tszefantszyunbao” aims at them, which on the eve of the holiday published an editorial stating that China seeks peaceful development, but cannot be an idealist: - “We must continue to strengthen our forces.” History human society, the newspaper notes, knows examples of a sudden defeat or death of this or that country, and this is closely related to the weakness or even the loss of its military-strategic potential. Therefore, the conclusion is made in the article, the path to national power and the prosperity of the nation is always in constant strengthening of the military-strategic potential and the application of science in this area.

The country's armed forces should, further emphasizes “Tszefantszyunbao”, which is the press organ of the Central Military Council of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the Ministry of Defense of the PRC, pay special attention to the transition from the traditional system of “respect for the ground forces and paying less attention to the fleet” to the coordinated development of land , air and space forces, to increase readiness to achieve dominance at sea, in air and outer space, as well as in electromagnetic, Internet and information th spheres. It is necessary to accelerate the transition from mechanization to informatization and comprehensively improve the capabilities of early warning and reconnaissance systems, the transfer of troops over medium and long distances, information resistance, joint operations and integrated support.

The article also put forward a number of key points related to increasing the PLA combat effectiveness. In particular, it is stated that the troops must "prepare to achieve victory in local wars with the use of modern technology and high-tech weapons", "improve the strategic literacy of command personnel, especially top managers", "be able to respond to traditional security threats, and also neutralize unconventional threats.

China, it is also noted in the publication, is actively looking for new points of growth of military-strategic potential, which will differ significantly from the "military presence", "military deterrence" of the Western powers, as well as methods for achieving their strategic goals. The PRC will implement the policy of active defense strategy and strengthen the military-strategic potential, which is the embodiment of the essence of the socialist state.

These outlined by the newspaper, in fact, the strategic guidelines of the Chinese leadership on further development of the PLA were reinforced at a meeting of the Secretary General of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the PRC and Chairman of the Central Military Council Hu Jintao with the participants in the meeting on party building in the army on July 24 in Beijing. Speaking at it, Hu Jintao, in particular, stressed that army party organizations of different levels should deploy multidirectional activities in order to have a powerful stimulating effect on the comprehensive military construction and effective implementation by the armed forces of the historic mission in the new century.

The implementation of these strategic installations is guaranteed not only by rigorous control over the decisions taken, but also by the allocation of the necessary funds for the development of the armed forces. The Chinese defense budget for 2010 a year is 532,1 billion yuan (about 78 billion dollars), which is 7,5 percent more than last year’s national military spending. At the same time, this is slightly lower than it was before, when over the course of almost two decades, the PRC's expenditures on the needs of the army increased annually by at least 10 percent. An explanation of this should probably be sought in the consequences of the economic crisis.

However, it is clear that this will not adversely affect military construction. Li Zhaoxing, a spokesman for the National People’s Congress, said that in 2010, China will increase spending on national defense mainly to support military reform, increase the army’s ability to respond to various security threats and perform various military tasks. “The life of all the people of China is improving, so we need to improve the life of our native army,” he was quoted as saying by the People's Daily.

All this allows the People’s Liberation Army to be equipped with high-tech military equipment and to introduce into the military construction methods of command and control based on modern information technologies. For example, at present, China has embarked on creating a powerful and modern fleet capable of performing a wide range of tasks in the oceans and competing with the navy of other powers. Aircraft carriers will play a major role in it, the first of which is expected to be launched in the 2015 year. And the Air Force. The pace of China, demonstrated in the development of modern fighters, can not fail to attract attention. They are not inferior even to many Western countries. Within ten years after the launch of the fourth generation of fighter jets, China is ready to conduct a fifth generation test flight.

At the same time, analysts note that China is still experiencing some problems in solving problems of promising military construction. So, in the same air force there are not enough aircraft to refuel fuel in the air and military transport planes, which limits the PLA’s ability to conduct transnational military operations. There is also a lack of real combat practice and experience. But the Chinese army is actively learning and how the sponge absorbs the experience of the armed forces of other countries.

For example, in the PLA very carefully watched the maneuvers "Vostok-2010". Evidence of this was the publication “What is instructive Russian military exercises for China?”, Posted recently in “Renmin zhibao”. It indicates that these exercises, according to Beijing military observers, suggest some thoughts in the aspect of building China’s national defense and the combat training of the Chinese armed forces.

First, observers consider, it is necessary “to be able to act when it is necessary.” Disclosing this thesis, they indicate that the exercises and especially the effective fulfillment of tasks for the transfer of troops over long distances and other elements fully demonstrated the results of the training and the professional spirit of the Russian army, which is in a state of permanent combat readiness.

“Secondly, to reach out quickly when you need to reach out.” By this position, observers understand that the protection of regional stability and national vital interests in the 21st century cannot rely on the single actions of one country and that only with the participation of various forces can balance be achieved. This is especially characteristic of the Asian region, where large countries are concentrated, interests are intertwined, there are complex links of profit and damage, where points of conflict are concentrated. Therefore, they believe, it is even more necessary to properly use and resort to the help of various forces in implementing the security strategy and defending the basic interests of China.

And, “thirdly, it is necessary to have both hands: both“ hard ”and“ soft ”. Observers point out that in a complex and changeable international environment, “China really needs to seriously do its homework in order to achieve a combination of firmness and flexibility, coordination of forces, maximum efficiency in military, diplomatic and political activities.”