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PLA\u2019s Strategy Textbook: Science of Military Strategy (SMS)<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n China has two premier institutes – the Academy of Military Sciences (AMS) and National Defence University (NDU). Over the last three decades, they have produced several editions of the publication titled Science of Military Strategy (SMS)<\/em>. SMS is the core textbook for senior PLA officers on how wars should be planned and conducted at the strategic level. The publication is considered to be a doctrinal teaching material and it provides a glimpse into the Chinese military thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In August 2020, the latest version of SMS, influenced by structural military reforms adopted under Xi was published. The 2020 version as compared to the previous one of 2017 has some new additions. These include wartime political work, \u201cintelligentisation\u201d concepts, China\u2019s military strategic guidelines, major war operations, joint logistics and the People\u2019s Armed Police. The changes have been justified as necessity in order to \u201cbetter adapt to the major trend in the form of warfare shifting from informationisation to intelligentisation.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The SMS is a 450 page document, divided into three parts with 24 chapters. The first part consists of general abstractions on strategic theory, planning, evaluation, and related topics. The second part covers special topics on strategic warfare, including crisis management and prevention, deterrence, war control, and operational guidance; it also includes chapters on military operations other than war and overseas operations. The third focuses on force development for each of the traditional services (army, navy, air force and rocket force), as well as space and cyber forces, the People\u2019s Armed Police (PAP) and reserve forces.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. <\/span>Emphasis<\/u> on Wartime Political Work.<\/u> One of the most interesting updates is the addition of a section on wartime political work. The section starts with a statement that the wartime political work consists of the thought work and organizational work of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in carrying out military\u2019s operations. It emphasises on the need to explore a new model of political work and information and network operations, involving the more active use of social media platforms. The section identifies the main features of wartime political work to include:<\/span><\/p>\n Comments.<\/u><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The publication justifies inclusion based on the changing character of warfare, however, it seems to be consistent with CCP General Secretary and Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman Xi Jinping\u2019s emphasis on improving party control over the military.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comments<\/u>.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n China is looking at future technologies in the process of modernisation of its defence forces and is investing a lot in them.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Comments.<\/u><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The new statements indicate a shift from \u201cintegrated joint operations\u201d to \u201cmulti-domain integrated joint operations\u201d.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Comments<\/u><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n China has an advanced strategic reconnaissance capability. Its strength lies in space based surveillance and AI based systems.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comments<\/u><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The document suggests investment in expeditionary capability. In coming years, China is likely to have six carrier battle group, blue water navy with capability to deploy two fleets (maybe one in pacific and one in Indian Ocean). Emphasis on fighting jointly also suggests that future combat operations in the \u201cfar seas\u201d will be a team effort and not by a single individual service.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Comments<\/u><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n China\u2019s Civil-Military fusion programme is a top driven and focused programme.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comments and value additions are most welcome<\/span><\/p>\n For regular updates please register here –<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/subscribe\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n References<\/u><\/span><\/p>\nKey Changes in the 2020 Version<\/u><\/span><\/h3>\n
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