Peacetime Engagement of the People's Liberation Army Ground Forces by the United States Army

This paper presents a strategy for peacetime engagement between the United States Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) ground forces. A generation of PLA officers, several who fought us in the Korean War, is preparing to pass the leadership of the PLA to a new generation. This new generation of PLA leaders' contacts with the United States Army is virtually nonexistent. It is imperative these young officers learn about us and we about them. If not, the U.S. Army may again, as did American soldiers in the Korean War, find itself on some Asian terrain, surprised, outnumbered, isolated and cutoff by an Army who will give no quarter. This paper recommends three steps for the U.S. Army to open effective lines of communication with the PLA. They are: synchronize the Army's message to the PLA throughout the force, and across the world; assist the PLA in its mission of nation building; and bring the strengths of the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard to this effort. These measures, combined with efforts from other DOD and U.S. government departments, can help the U.S. and China become honest, frank and forthright neighbors for peace in the Asia-Pacific region.