This monograph seeks to determine if China's military has a "uniquely Chinese" flavor of operational art when compared to the United States. The study asserts the importance of history, specifically relating to China's unique philosophical and military tradition, as a lens through which an increased understanding of modern People's Liberation Army (PLA) operational art is achieved. The philosophical ideas present in Confucianism and Taoism bring clarity to contemporary PLA doctrine and activities. The study examines Chinese philosophical and military tradition, national strategy, and PLA doctrine in comparison to Western philosophy and US Joint doctrine to reveal uniquely Chinese concepts. Case studies then analyze PLA participation in United Nations Peacekeeping, PLA Navy anti-piracy operations and cyber activities to characterize operational art in practice. The study concludes that a unique Chinese flavor of operational art does in fact exist, and demonstrates the continuing influence of China's philosophical and military tradition. Chinese operational art includes the creative combination of unconventional means (ho), the ability to alter relative positions between opposites (yin and yang), and the flexible application of forces within a situation (wu wei). These concepts underpin the asymmetric employment of task-organized combinations to bring about a position of advantage (shi). Contemporary and future PLA operations are likely to demonstrate a preference for an indirect approach, and include patience in decision-making and tempo as PLA leaders pursue a holistic understanding of the situation, self, and enemy, and as they allow the situation to develop into favorable conditions.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)