By Brig. Rahul Bhonsle
Overview of the Pentagon 2018 Report on armed forces developments inwards Cathay indicates PLA Army capability to dominate the LAC/IB sectors on Sino Indian borders The United States Department of Defence Annual Report to Congress on Military too Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of Cathay 2018 has been released. The Report [hereinafter called the Pentagon 2018 Report] outlines a give away of vectors of capability evolution of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) based on reorganisation too modernisation noticed inwards 2017. China’s Defence Ministry has rejected the Pentagon 2018 Report calling it every bit misrepresenting too exaggerating the, “so-called Cathay armed forces threat.” Nevertheless when compared alongside developments tracked concomitantly during the year, a capability profile of the PLA Western Theatre Command tin plough over notice hold out visualised.
Specific to the PLA Army the reorganisation too modernisation undertaken provides the forces rapid reaction capability on the Tibetan Plateau alongside possible decentralisation of command too command to the Western Theatre Command.
Some previous reports signal that Tibet District Command continues to hold out straight nether the Joint Staff Department nether the Central Military Commission which controls all operations.
Significantly General Li Zuocheng caput of the JSD has been a commander of the Chengdu based Western Theatre Command.
The Pentagon 2018 Report believes that the operations inwards Doklam inwards June-August 2017 could lead hold been mayhap controlled yesteryear the Western Theatre Command.
Establishment of Joint Operations Command Center (JOCC) at the Theatre Commands provides the PLA substantial capabilities to muster resources of the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) too coordination of the work of Rocket Forces.
PLAA reorganisation of the xviii grouping armies into thirteen renamed grouping armies followed by, “brigadisation,” of these formations that is conversion of the divisions which were seen to hold out hard to manoeuvre into brigades is especially relevant inwards the context of operations on the Tibetan Plateau too the Sino Indian every bit good every bit the Kingdom of Bhutan edge facilitating speedy deployment too subsequent get thereby enhancing reply too reaction capabilities.
The Western Theatre Command has 2 grouping armies – the thirteen too 47 Group Armies. thirteen Group Army is on Tibetan Plateau piece 47 is inwards Xinjiang. 21 Group Army which was inwards the Chengdu Military Region before has been redeployed, therefore reducing the overall give away of Group Armies.
As per Military Balance 2017, the club of battle of thirteen Group Army comprises of 1 Special Forces Brigade, 1 Armoured Brigade, 1 Motorised Division too 1 High Altitude Motorised Division (RRU).
In add-on the Xinzang (Tibet) Military District has 2 Mountain Brigades, 1 High Altitude Mechanised Brigade too 1 Special Forces Group.
Evidently the forces deployed inwards Tibet proceed to hold out a mix of brigades too divisions given that the operational effectiveness of brigade sized units inwards the harsh mountainous too high height terrain on the Bharat Cathay edge is limited.
The PLA is mayhap hoping to role a give away of mechanised too motorised formations alongside the thirteen Group Army nether Western Theatre Command to laid upwardly forces at the dot of decision.
Combined arms brigades inwards a Group regular army volition hold out supported yesteryear the combat back upwardly units of the artillery, air defence, special operations, aviation too the engineers.
Significantly on 17 August Cathay Military Online reported that the PLAA tested a digital combat scheme on the Tibet Qinghai Plateau. This included the role of PLL-09, 122 millimeter self-propelled howitzer every bit good as, “drones, early on alarm radar, howitzers too air defence forcefulness missiles.”
Brigadisation alongside allotment of modern armed forces equipment is assessed to supply the PLAA capability for bear of independent brigade or battalion sized operations.
47 Group Army volition hold out able to deploy 1 armoured brigade, 1 heavy mechanised brigade too 2 high height mount brigades to back upwardly the thirteen Group Army if necssary.
The overall forcefulness levels every bit compared to the deployment of the Indian Army on the Sino Indian edge may look to hold out lower inwards numbers, nonetheless extensive route too rail communication network on the Tibetan Plateau volition facilitate the PLA to motility reinforcements chop-chop from other sectors.
Importantly when employed alongside what the Pentagon 2018 Report has outlined every bit Coercive Approach or, “use tactics curt of armed conflict to pursue China’s strategic objectives through activities calculated to autumn below the threshold of provoking,” opposing forces, PLA volition hold out able to hold a high marking of authority of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) every bit good every bit the disputed pockets on the McMohan Line.
In tandem alongside the PLAA brigadisation, PLAAF is every bit good converting the fighter too solid soil assault divisions into brigades based on air bases. While PLAAF capability to operate off Tibet may proceed to hold out express despite enhancements made inwards modernising the v air bases at present, evolution of long attain bombers is a tendency that volition lead hold to hold out analysed inwards farther special separately.
Placing of the People’s Armed Police (PAP) nether the CMC volition every bit good entail considerable accretions to nurture expanse safety too logistics back upwardly for the forepart business units yesteryear mustering local labour too civilian infrastructure inwards a streamlined manner.
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