About This Report iii
Summary v
Figures and Tables ix

Chapter 1. Introduction 1
 Research Scope 2
 Research Approach 3
 Literature Review 4
 Organization of This Report 5

Chapter 2. Understanding Chinese Thinking About Command and Control and Future Warfare 7
 Understanding Some Basics of Chinese Command Theory 7
 PLA Views of Future Warfare 10
 Drivers of Evolving PLA Approach to Future Command 14
 Conclusion 23

Chapter 3. PLA Views of Future Command and Proposed Future Command Concepts 24
 Characteristics of Future Warfare Environments and Implications for Command 24
 Implications for Command 28
 Key Debate Will Data Eliminate the Fog of War 35
 Proposed Future C2 Constructs 38
 Conclusion 40

Chapter 4. Mission Command as Alternative Command Approach 41
 Critiques of Traditional Command Approach 42
 A Brief History of PLA Efforts to Balance Centralized vs Decentralized Command 46
 PLA Texts on Balancing Centralized vs Decentralized Command 48
 Defining Mission Command 50
 The Emergence of Mission Command 51
 Benefits of Mission Command 55
 Requirements for Mission Command 60
 Evidence for Adoption in PLA Training and Exercises 64
 Conclusion 69

Chapter 5. Exploring the Potential Adoption of Mission Command Within the PLA 70
 Current PLA Views on Delegation 70
 Considering Mission Command Adoption by Service and Operational Type 72
 Skip Echelon Command Is Likely to Remain and Use May Grow 78
 Some Open Questions 80
 Conclusion 81

Chapter 6. Alternative Futures for PLA Command and Implications for the United States 83
 Alternative 1 A Full Embrace of Mission Command 83
 Alternative Future 2 A Stunted Embrace of Mission Command 90
 Alternative Future 3 Path Dependent Continuation of Centralized Command 96
 Taking Stock 98

Chapter 7. Conclusion 99
 Findings 99
 Recommendations 101

Appendix. Chinese Views of U.S.-China C2 Comparison 103

Abbreviations 117
References 118