The CNS report quoted Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the People’s Liberation Army, as saying that these joint exercises are not to lead China into any military alliance, nor do they pose a threat to any other country. Worth noting, however, is their increased frequency. In the years from 2002 to 2006, China took part in a total of only 16 joint military drills. And yet, as the report documents, in 2007 alone there were 10.
In fact, the year 2007 is referred to in the Chinese media as "the year of military exercises." Indeed, 2007 witnessed participation in overseas joint drills by all branches of the Chinese military, as well as by the People’s Armed Police (PAP), whose main mission is internal security.
I've noted the unusual focus on training evident, already:
You can get away with poorly trained mass in a land war against a smaller enemy. But for airborne and amphibious operations, you can't initially get the overwhelming numbers you might be used to from past wars whether in Korea or against Vietnam. You need quality to break down the door.
This type of training is expensive and I worry about what it might mean for the near future.
The question is what year is next in the communist zodiac? In their long history, China has never been that focused on training.
It is quite possible that our wars against Iraq and Serbia have impressed the Chinese and this focus on training is just the beginning of a long-term trend to inject Western-level skills into their military. But it might also be a task-focused surge aimed at preparing existing forces for a particular mission.
