US Report Claims Chinese Military Lack of Cross-Training Could be a Major Weakness

A United States report claims that the Chinese military's lack of cross-training could be a major weakness that would hamper Beijing's ability to wage a war similar to what Russia has done with Ukraine.

The U.S. National Defense University's report identifies the issue as a possible Achilles' Heel within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). However, analysts remain wary of underestimating China's offensive capabilities and warn against comparisons with Russia's forces.

China Military's Weakness

The report also delved into the backgrounds of more than 300 of the PLA's top officers across its five services, army, navy, air force, rocket force, and strategic support force, in the six years leading up to 2021. The analysis found that in each service, leaders were unlikely to have operational experience in any branch other than the one they began their careers in.

This means that PLA soldiers stay soldiers, sailors stay sailors, and airmen stay airmen. It is extremely rare for them to venture outside of those silos, said the report, noting that it was a sharp contrast to the U.S. military, where cross-training has been a legal requirement since 1986, as per CNN.

The 73-page report continued by adding that this "rigidity could reduce China's effectiveness in future conflicts." This is particularly true in conflicts requiring high levels of joint-service action, and suggests PLA forces would become bogged down by the same sort of issues that have bedeviled their Russian counterparts in Ukraine, "where the overall cohesion of forces was low."

Since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, deficiencies in the Russian military structure have become obvious to outside observers. Recently, Ukraine staged a counteroffensive and was able to push back Moscow's forces as the latter lacked air cover, said analysts.

According to Reuters, the situation comes as Germany is observing China's military build-up and drills with Russia with concern while signaling its commitment to a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific with its growing presence in the area.

International Tensions

Currently, Germany is focusing on the Ukraine war but did not take its eyes off security developments elsewhere, whether that be on its doorstep in the west Balkans or in the Indo-Pacific. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said that they were naturally observing China's build-up with concern and are "observing very exactly every single step there."

Germany is increasingly joining other Western nations in showing more muscle in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing concern over Beijing's territorial ambitions. Berlin sent its first warship last year, the first in the last two decades, to the disputed waters of the South China Sea. This month, Beijing sent 13 military aircraft to join exercises in Australia.

On the other hand, China has lodged a complaint as a United States Senate panel advanced a Taiwan Bill. The legislation would enhance U.S. military support for Taiwan, which Beijing claims is part of its territory.

The bill, if passed, would greatly affect U.S.-China relations, said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, during a regular media briefing. The Chinese official also described the new U.S. legislation as sending "a serious false signal to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence," Channel News Asia reported.