This new analysis marks the beginning of a series that will also cover Russia, Iran, and North Korea, examining how these countries conduct warfare at the operational level. By starting with China, considered the most capable of the four, the Army aims to deepen understanding of potential threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
Ian Sullivan, TRADOC G-2 Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, emphasised the importance of engaging with the material. “I encourage all members of the Army community to engage with this material and consider its implications,” he said. “We must begin with an understanding of our potential adversary if we are to visualise how the Army will participate as part of a joint, combined, and interagency team in a future conflict in the Indo-Pacific.”
The publication provides an in-depth analysis of the PLA’s military philosophy, operational strategy, and the structure of its Joint Theater Commands. It also examines the PLA’s approach to multi-domain operations and highlights the role of ground forces in large-scale combat scenarios.
To illustrate China’s combat strategies, the document includes two vignettes: one focusing on an island seizure operation and the other on an island defence scenario. These examples offer practical insights into how the PLA might operate in a conflict involving territorial disputes.
The report builds on concepts introduced in TRADOC Pamphlet 525-92, The Operational Environment 2024-2034: Large-Scale Combat Operations. It also serves as a complement to the Army Techniques Publication 7-100.3, Chinese Tactics, reinforcing the Army’s focus on understanding contemporary military threats.
TRADOC G-2 plans to continue the series with the next publication, How Russia Fights in Large-Scale Combat Operations, scheduled for release in July 2025. Subsequent editions will address Iran and North Korea, offering a comprehensive view of potential adversaries’ combat strategies.
The How China Fights in Large-Scale Combat Operations publication is now accessible through the TRADOC G-2 Operational Environment website at: How China Fights in Large-Scale Combat Operations.
