Joint Sea naval exercise and a joint naval patrol; two strategic aerial patrols; and PLA participation in Russia’s capstone military exercise, VOSTOK 2022. The PRC and Russia also conducted a trilateral naval exercise with Iran, the third such exercise since 2019. Other bilateral exercises the PLA conducted last year included the fifth FALCON STRIKE air exercise with Thailand, the PEACE TRAIN humanitarian rescue exercise with Laos, and the SEA GUARDIANS naval exercise with Pakistan. The PRC’s lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in late 2022 will likely facilitate the reinvigoration of PLA defense activities abroad as well as the hosting of senior level bilateral and multilateral engagements in China.
Military Education Collaboration. Beijing considers establishing international professional military education (PME) as a way to create transnational networks of alumni, foster a common understanding of military operational doctrine, and strengthen the PRC’s defense and security ties. Over the past decade, the PRC has increased its military exchange programs with a bias toward junior officers. Nearly half of the 70 military academies operated in China admit foreign students but only a few offers senior-level education. The College of Defense Studies of the PLA National Defense University (PLA NDU) provides the highest level of training for foreign officers offered by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. In addition to training foreign senior military officials, PLA NDU conducts international exchanges and academic discussions on defense and security issues. The PLA NDU has accepted students from more than 100 partner nations and has pursued relationships with Latin American and African militaries.
Although third countries have historically perceived Chinese PME as less prestigious than Russian or U.S. PME, the PRC’s growing economic clout and expanded global security presence has bolstered the international reputation of Chinese programs. For example, PLA NDU offers students higher stipends and greater exposure to Chinese technological and scientific innovations (such as military applications of AI) than Russian schools.
The PRC also cultivates transnational alumni and shared doctrinal understanding through short-term course offerings. Since 2002, the PLA NDU sought to increase exchanges with the international military community by sponsoring annual security seminars which aim to foster cooperation, strengthen military exchanges, and attempt to impart a common approach to issues of interest to the community. The PLA NDU has received thousands of students from over 90 countries and maintains regular contacts with military academies in more than 10 countries in addition to over 140 countries’ militaries.
Despite the PRC’s progress to enhance its PME programs, cultural and linguistic barriers limit the effectiveness of Chinese PME. For example, foreign student and host nation student contacts and opportunities for interaction are limited due to the separation between Chinese and foreign language courses. Additionally, despite detailed dives on specific issues, PRC military schools rarely teach students about the root causes of security problems. Military ethics and human rights are off-limits for discussion within the PLA NDU curriculum and students are prohibited from criticizing the PRC’s record in these areas.
153
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China
