The discussion takes off from the recent revelation that PLA Ground Force numbers are now less than 50 per cent, signalling the Chinese determination to press ahead with the modernisation of their forces. During the 19th Party Congress in 2017, the CPC laid out a benchmark which said that the PLA should be fully mechanised by 2020, “modernised” by 2035 and become a “world-class military” by 2050. The discussion will also attempt to take stock of China’s most recent reform process that began in 2013.
Lt Gen (Retd) S L Narasimhan, Member National Security Advisory Board and Director-General Centre for Contemporary China Studies
Amrita Jash, Associate Fellow, Centre for Land Warfare Studies
Manoj Joshi, Distinguished Fellow, ORF (Chair)
The event will be from 15:00-16:30 hours
