People's Liberation Army aims to better co-ordinate its operation

The People's Liberation Army will better co-ordinate the work of its different military and geographical branches, according to the resolution of the just concluded Communist Party plenum published yesterday.

The document offered no details about how the military intends to improve the mechanism. There had been speculation in some local and overseas media that the plenum would change the army's command structure to strengthen its ability to fight modern wars.

Analysts said the document suggested the plenum failed to deliver sweeping changes to the military.

Military officials and experts said the PLA was keen on innovation but was unlikely to build a chain of united combatant commands similar to the United States' Pacific Command, which co-ordinates regional military, terrorism and crime-fighting capabilities.

The military system was built during peacetime and some experts wonder if the country is prepared to fight a war, especially given the various tensions with some of the country's regional neighbours.

"Both Russia and the US [have] a presidential system, with the army belonging to the country," said a senior colonel who did not wish to be named.