China’s show of force over Taiwan a chance to test military coordination but results unclear: analysts

Beijing has touted PLA forces’ close cooperation, accompanied by evidence of smoother logistics involving army long-range artillery and missile units

But military yet to test some capabilities likely needed for an outright invasion, like sustained artillery bombardment or blockading ships

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Amphibious armoured vehicles under the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army taking part in an assault wave formation training exercise in Zhangzhou, Fujian province. Photo: cnsphoto via Reuters.

Published: 6:30am, 23 Aug 2022Updated: 6:39am, 23 Aug 2022

China’s massive intimidation effort this month following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan allowed the world’s biggest standing army to test the coordination of its personnel, weaponry, supplies and communications, although the results are less than clear, analysts said in Washington on Monday.

The military display of force was the largest since an overhaul of the People’s Liberation Army in 2016, calling on the army, navy, air force and logistics branches to work together. Traditionally led by the army, the PLA has not always been well coordinated.

Amid the fresh tensions, Beijing touted PLA forces’ close cooperation, accompanied by evidence of smoother logistics involving army long-range artillery and missile units within the military’s Eastern Theatre Command, analysts said at a Centre for Strategic and International Studies event.

“If the army and rocket force fires were coordinated, that would suggest some level of joint command-and-control at the theatre level,” which is an impression Beijing hopes to convey, said Roderick Lee, research director at Air University’s China Aerospace Studies Institute. “The activities we’re seeing are very much intended for messaging and deterrence purposes.”

However, it remained unclear how much progress in overall integration had been made. Coordination is vital for military performance, as illustrated by Russia’s missteps since it invaded Ukraine in February.