EVENTS

Abstract        

In the past three years since Xi Jinping assumed leadership of the Communist Party of China, the international community has witnessed the People's Liberation Army becoming more active, across the disputed Sino-Indian border, the South China Sea, and the Indian Ocean. As Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping is leading a historic transformation of the PLA from a land-centric homeland defence force, to one that is capable of intervening in regional contingencies. While it will take time before the PLA can match the global reach of the US military, the PLA is seeking to model itself on its American counterpart, emphasizing joint operational capabilities and an ability to fight in a high-technology, 'information technology' environment. Yet the need to professionalise is only one aspect of the Chinese situation, and the reform measures called for, cover a wide range - from creating new organisations for the command and employment of the forces, to enhancing military training, discipline inspection, and audit.

About the Speaker

Dr. Manoj Joshi is a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. He is a graduate from St Stephen’s College, Delhi University and a Ph.D. from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has been a Visiting Professor at the SIS, JNU, as well as a Visiting Fellow at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University. He has had distinguished career as a journalist for three decades, specializing on national and international politics and is a commentator and columnist on these issues. He has written extensively on issues relating to Siachen, Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka and terrorism in Kashmir and Punjab. He was also an Academic Fellow of the American Studies Research Centre, Hyderabad. He has been a member of the National Security Council’s Advisory Board and is the author of two books On the Kashmir issue and several papers in professional journals.