'Technology Determines Tactics':The Relationship between Technology and Doctrine in Chinese Military Thinking

摘要

Does 'doctrine drive technology' or does 'technology drive doctrine'? For the United States with its advanced industrial and technological base, many examples of 'doctrine driving technology' can be found. For the People's Liberation Army (PLA), however, most evidence from military sources indicates that 'technology drives doctrine' or, as the Chinese say, 'technology determines tactics' (but not necessarily strategy). Within an overarching Chinese strategic framework, tactics and doctrine will be developed appropriate for (a) the weapons and technologies that are actually in the Chinese armed forces and (b) the people who must operate and maintain them. The Chinese civilian and military leadership has designated 2049 for completion of the modernization of the Chinese armed forces, a date selected in conjunction with the target for achieving China's main strategic priority, national economic modernization. Barring a major change in the strategic or domestic environment, we can expect that Beijing will continue to pursue the development of new weapons and technology in a manner consistent with the larger goal of national economic development. Exactly how China fights in the future will be dependent upon the weapons and technologies available - and they will be employed within the parameters defined by active defense and People's War.