New Military Reforms Reveal China's Ambition

January 14, 2016 | 09:17 GMT

Chinese soldiers march past Tiananmen Square before a military parade on Sept. 3, 2015, in Beijing. (KEVIN FRAYER/Getty Images)

China has enacted another military reform: a restructuring of the general staff system. Streamlining the general staff moves Beijing closer to two of its goals, namely strengthening Party control and creating a more capable and modern military that can conduct joint operations. This requires an integrated approach and a unified command structure that enable all services to work seamlessly together