BLUF
A RAND report warns China’s People’s Liberation Army may be shifting toward mission command—delegating initiative to subordinates—potentially making it more agile, resilient, and harder for the U.S. and allies to disrupt through command-and-control strikes.Learning Outcomes
- Explain how PLA adoption of mission command could increase its operational adaptability and resilience.
- Assess implications of a more flexible Chinese command model for ADF and regional planning, training, and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
- Identify risks and opportunities for the ADF in observing or engaging with PLA forces through exercises.
