PLA Logistics and Sustainment: PLA Conference 2022

There is no issue more critical to US security than the expansive and long-term challenge posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Russian war in Ukraine is deservedly receiving great attention. But where Russia is a persistent subversive threat operating from a position of weakness, the PRC poses a much more substantial and robust threat operating from an ever increasing position of strength.

With the PRC posing the larger strategic threat, the Department of Defense recently termed it the United States’ “pacing challenge.” If the US Joint Force is to meet this challenge, it must become expert in understanding the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) logistics capacity and how it intends to sustain itself in operations throughout the region.