By Robert Farley
The PLA has expanded its presence and influence in the international military community over the last year.
China is entering a new age of military diplomacy.
The Chinese military has historically played an unusual role in the transnational community of military professionals. While the Nationalist armies relied on considerable support from Western military forces, including German, British, American, French, and Italian advisors, the early PLA was far more isolated from international influence. The PLAN and PLAAF depended on advice from and interaction with the Soviet Navy in the years following the Revolution. During the Cold War, Chinese officers advised insurgents around the world, as well as offering direct support to kindred organizations in Vietnam and North Korea.
But today’s PLA is a professional force, and for the last two decades it has expanded its presence and influence in the international military community, a trendline that has ticked distinctly up in the last year. This includes not only the participation of the PLAN at RIMPAC, but also PLAAF exercises in Pakistan, PLAN joint exercises with the Russians, and PLAAF participation at Aviadarts.
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