ABSTRACT
The PLA is in the fourth decade of a complex, long-term modernization process. The increase in speed and intensity of modernization seen since 1999 could not have been accomplished without the foundation established in the first 20 years of reform. Nevertheless, much remains to be done, and, according to the 2006 White Paper, the timeline for completion of the modernization process extends until mid-century:
China pursues a three-step development strategy in modernizing its national defense and armed forces, in accordance with the state's overall plan to realize modernization. The first step is to lay a solid foundation by 2010, the second is to make major progress around 2020, and the third is to basically reach the strategic goal of building informationized armed forces and being capable of winning informationized wars by the mid-21st century. 1
