China's Logistics Capabilities for Expeditionary Operations
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China’s Logistics Capabilities for Expeditionary Operations The modular transfer system between a Type 054A frigate and a COSCO container ship during China’s first military-civil UNREP. Source: “重大突破!民船为海军水面舰艇实施干货补给 [Breakthrough! Civil Ships Implement Dry Cargo Supply for Naval Surface Ships],” Guancha, November 15, 2019 Primary author: Chad Peltier Supporting analysts: Tate Nurkin and Sean O’Connor Disclaimer: This research report was prepared at the request of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission to support its deliberations. Posting of the report to the Commission's website is intended to promote greater public understanding of the issues addressed by the Commission in its ongoing assessment of U.S.-China economic relations and their implications for U.S. security, as mandated by Public Law 106-398 and Public Law 113-291. However, it does not necessarily imply an endorsement by the Commission or any individual Commissioner of the views or conclusions expressed in this commissioned research report. 1 Contents Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Methodology, Scope, and Study Limitations ........................................................................................................ 6 1. China’s Expeditionary Operations Logistics System ...................................................................................... 8 China’s Logistics Reform Effort: Dimensions and Drivers .............................................................................. 8 Military and Geopolitical Drivers of PLA Logistic Reform ............................................................................... 8 Logistics Support Department and Joint Logistics Support Force ............................................................... 12 Continuing Development Priorities and Challenges ..................................................................................... 17 Integration and Bureaucratic Resistance ................................................................................................... 17 Enhancing Military-Civil Fusion ................................................................................................................... 17 Informatization of Logistics Systems .......................................................................................................... 18 Combat Readiness: Training, Talent Recruitment and Retention, and Exercises ................................ 19 Discipline and Corruption ............................................................................................................................ 21 2. Bases and Basing Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 22 PLA Basing Strategy 2020 – 2030 ................................................................................................................. 36 PLA Basing After 2030 .................................................................................................................................... 37 3. PLA Expeditionary Operations Capabilities and Sustainment ..................................................................... 39 PLAN Expeditionary Capabilities .................................................................................................................... 39 PLAN Future Force Requirements ............................................................................................................ 44 PLAN Marine Corps (PLANMC) deployment ................................................................................................ 46 PLAN Expeditionary Logistics Models ........................................................................................................... 48 PLAAF Expeditionary Capabilities .................................................................................................................. 52 4. Role of Civilian Organizations in Expeditionary Operations ......................................................................... 54 Civilian overseas port facilities ......................................................................................................................... 55 RO-Ros and Container ships .......................................................................................................................... 55 Tankers ............................................................................................................................................................. 57 Strategic airlift .................................................................................................................................................... 57 Recommendations for Congress ........................................................................................................................ 59 Appendix A: Gulf of Aden Task Forces .............................................................................................................. 62 Appendix B: Djibouti Base and Potential Base Locations ................................................................................ 63 Appendix C: Satellite Imagery of Potential Overseas Chinese Bases ............................................................ 84 Endnotes ............................................................................................................................................................. 103 2 Abbreviations ASUW Anti-Surface Warfare ASW Anti-Submarine Warfare BRI Belt and Road Initiative CCTV China Central Television COSCO China Ocean Shipping Company CMC China Central Military Commission DoD Department of Defense (U.S.) GLD General Logistics Department HA/DR Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief ISR Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance JLSB Joint Logistics Support Base JLSC Joint Logistics Support Center JLSF Joint Logistics Support Force LHD Landing Helicopter Dock LPD Landing Platform Dock LSD Logistics Support Department / Landing Ship Dock MEU Marine Expeditionary Unit MND Ministry of National Defense NEO Noncombatant Evacuation Operation PLA People’s Liberation Army PLAAF People’s Liberation Army Air Force PLAN People’s Liberation Army Navy PLANMC People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps UNREP Underway Replenishment XAC Xi’an Aircraft Company 3 Executive Summary China is prioritizing three military development goals through 2030: 1. The ability to impose unacceptable costs on the access of, or freedom of maneuver within, China’s first and second island chains. This includes the South and East China Seas as well as the waters out to Guam. 2. The ability to contribute to international commons operations, which China perceives as the responsibilities of a great power.1 This is seen through China’s involvement in the Gulf of Aden anti-piracy task force missions and participation in overseas humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) operations. 3. Defending China’s overseas economic interests, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including infrastructure and overseas Chinese nationals. The risk of terrorist activity targeting Chinese facilities and personnel is likely to be a major driver of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) expeditionary combat operations through 2030. In pursuit of these goals, China has pursued both organizational reforms as well as new military capabilities to aid in expeditionary operations. As part of broader organizational restructuring beginning in 2015, the PLA created the Logistic Support Department (LSD) and Joint Logistic Support Force (JLSF) to better support joint operations. The administrative separation of these two organizations divides responsibilities for force management and logistics implementation / operations support, countering corruption, enhancing joint logistics between the services, and better aligning the organizations with Central Military Commission (CMC) strategic planning. The JLSF manages the implementation of the joint logistics support system, coordinating logistics, personnel, and supplies to theater commands. Based at Wuhan Joint Logistics Support Base (JLSB), the JLSF directs five joint logistics support centers (JLSC) aligned with a specific theater command. The LSD provides PLA-wide strategic logistics planning, coordinates military-civil fusion, and determines strategic priorities. Together the two organizations are responsible for diverse logistics activities including inventory and warehousing, medical services, transport, force projection, oil pipelines, engineering and construction management, reserve assets management. Additionally, both the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) are rapidly expanding their offensive and logistical capabilities. These include the introduction of the PLAN’s Type 055 destroyers, Type 075 landing helicopter docks (LHD), Type 901 fast replenishment ships, and indigenously designed aircraft carriers (including the Type 002 and future Type 003), as well as the PLAAF’s Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, the Y-20 tanker variant, and the J-20 fifth-generation fighter. Despite these advancements, the PLA is still in the early stages of developing its expeditionary