Issues/Problems the PLA needs to address

PanAsian said:

I agree and I think this is one of those areas where China's lack of capabilities can be inferred correctly based on its directly related actions from what you mentioned as well as its indirectly related problems trying to deal with repeated outbreaks of contagious diseases like various types of flu or SARS.

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excellent topic guys. this is one area that deserves a lot of attention, even if just preventive measures. nonetheless, biological warfare is a taboo in a modern system of warfare dictated by international standards, but the stakes certainly deserves more attention. this is not to mention WMDs like these are very attractive for asymmetric forces who can only attempt to rely on these tactics to disrupt morale and inflict damages sometimes

Biological warfare could potentially be carried out by terrorists. Asymmetrical tactics is their bread and butter and if they get hold of those vials, they will surely use them.

t2contra said:

Biological warfare could potentially be carried out by terrorists. Asymmetrical tactics is their bread and butter and if they get hold of those vials, they will surely use them.

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I think any of the three NBC type warfare is more difficult for non-state actors to carry out than at first glance. It requires personnel with expertise in the field to understand, acquire or create, and maintain the weapon, without being noticed and without affecting themselves. Once they have a weapon though, then delivering it is probably not as much of a challenge as it can be done surreptitiously.

airsuperiority said:

excellent topic guys. this is one area that deserves a lot of attention, even if just preventive measures. nonetheless, biological warfare is a taboo in a modern system of warfare dictated by international standards, but the stakes certainly deserves more attention. this is not to mention WMDs like these are very attractive for asymmetric forces who can only attempt to rely on these tactics to disrupt morale and inflict damages sometimes

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I actually have a dedicated thread here discussing about this very topic. Feel free to add your thoughts there too!

https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/chinese-biosecurity-news-level-4-labs-etc.t7215/

From reading the article in Chinese, maybe political commissar are soldiers or officer enlisted, promoted or employed by the party to provide specialist skills or writing report back to the party like a technical writer for IT industry. I think they maybe similar to Warrant Officers. Sometimes the Chinese still use archaic rank or label for new usage.

As for the Information integration part that I read in this article. I think PLA is getting there, but not as a big weakness as the military analyst have said. They have the technology, but like many said, more training and combat simulation is needed.

One thing that concerns me, why on earth do I see J-11/SU-27 using rocket pods for ground attack.

ahho said:

One thing that concerns me, why on earth do I see J-11/SU-27 using rocket pods for ground attack.

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Why not? Its no different from USN using with Hydra Rocket Pod for ground attack....

Ultra said:

Why not? Its no different from USN using

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with Hydra Rocket Pod for ground attack....

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Maybe I should rephrase that. There is nothing wrong, but for most of the video (could be old ones and I have not seen new ones) they were mostly showing rocket pods. I know they have smart munition, but I rarely seen them on actual exercises.

ahho said:

From reading the article in Chinese, maybe political commissar are soldiers or officer enlisted, promoted or employed by the party to provide specialist skills or writing report back to the party like a technical writer for IT industry. I think they maybe similar to Warrant Officers. Sometimes the Chinese still use archaic rank or label for new usage.

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Commissars I read are like half a rank more senior than the commander of the unit that they are embedded in. Commissars provide a thread for the CCP to manage the military. They are responsible for making it clear to the grunts what they are fighting for, and relaying orders from above and see to it that they are followed. The commander is responsible for the technical side of things i.e. the best way to get a job done or an order accomplished.

The party controls the military, they are not independent. Or more like the military is an extension of the party.

no_name said:

Commissars I read are like half a rank more senior than the commander of the unit that they are embedded in. Commissars provide a thread for the CCP to manage the military. They are responsible for making it clear to the grunts what they are fighting for, and relaying orders from above and see to it that they are followed. The commander is responsible for the technical side of things i.e. the best way to get a job done or an order accomplished.

The party controls the military, they are not independent. Or more like the military is an extension of the party.

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Also note that the commissars are right beside the unit commanders when it comes to operational decisions, or even fighting alongside their squad when the need arises. They don't get any special treatment or get to stay away from combat.

no_name said:

Commissars I read are like half a rank more senior than the commander of the unit that they are embedded in. Commissars provide a thread for the CCP to manage the military. They are responsible for making it clear to the grunts what they are fighting for, and relaying orders from above and see to it that they are followed. The commander is responsible for the technical side of things i.e. the best way to get a job done or an order accomplished.

The party controls the military, they are not independent. Or more like the military is an extension of the party.

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The commissars aren't always more senior in rank. The Chinese rank and grade system are not one-to-one. Each grade, i.e. command position have a minimum rank and a maximum rank, as well as an age limit. The maximum rank of a grade can be higher than the minimum rank of the next grade, but it is the grade that counts in terms giving out orders.

The CO and the commissar have the same grade.

Officers and commissars do not get rotated/assigned at the same time, so their ranks may differ while their grade is the same.

The CO is in charge of tactical and operational decisions, while the commissar is in charge of the administrative part (personal issues, liaisons, overseeing provisions etc). The commissar is also the most senior communist party member in the unit.

Given that usually the CO is also a communist party member, and the notion of the army being an extension of the communist party, this gives a commissar more seniority in practice, especially during peace time. And this is irrespective of the rank.