China overhauls military education, modernising troops to be ready to fight
- President Xi Jinping approves a new guideline which combines academic, military and vocational training
- System is failing to provide combat-ready soldiers that can meet demands of modern PLA, observers say
It is a departure from the previous emphasis on non-combat-related aspects of training such as theoretical and political studies, which was not an effective way to prepare soldiers for a more modern Chinese force, according to Zhou Chenming, a Beijing-based military expert.
“Some of the education is too academic – it trains soldiers into scientists who don’t understand the actual needs of the fighting force at present.”
Zhou said the training overhaul was the final step in China’s military modernisation drive.
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Shanghai-based military analyst Ni Lexiong said there was now a focus on training to make the best use of the PLA’s new modernised hardware.
“China’s military education system has not kept pace with other changes in the military – soldiers need to have not only the theoretical knowledge, but also knowledge with practical value [in real battle situations],” he said.
Hong Kong military commentator Song Zhongping agreed, saying future officers needed both military and professional training to help build a combat-ready force.
China has two military universities, the PLA National Defence University and the National University of Defence Technology. It also has dozens of other education organisations with a special focus on fields of expertise such as submarines and armoured vehicles.
The military also cooperates with Chinese universities such as Peking University and Beihang University to train personnel ranging from fighter pilots to commanders.
Xi highlighted the importance of having well-trained and educated soldiers during a visit to the PLA Army Infantry Academy in Nanchang last year. “The army’s educational institutions were established to study how to fight and win. We must teach with a focus on real combat scenarios and educate more talent,” state broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying at the time.