Understanding the China Landing Zone
The China landing zone, a one stop location for all things China, provides information on Chinese military doctrine, organization, and tactics in order to support educating the U.S. Army on how Chinese ground forces fight.
Each Landing Zone is a dynamic, one-stop resource for understanding how threat forces are structured, operate, and fight. Content is regularly updated—check back often and subscribe to stay informed.
What's New
U.S. Adversaries’ Trilateral Naval Exercises Reflect Convenience, Not Convergence
Emulating China’s Systems Confrontation Warfare Concept for U.S. Army Training
China’s People’s Armed Police Presents a Significant Force Multiplier During Armed Conflict
U.S. Adversaries’ Trilateral Naval Exercises Reflect Convenience, Not Convergence
The Pacific Security Environment
China’s Influence in South America Infographic
Emulating China’s Systems Confrontation Warfare Concept for U.S. Army Training
China’s Escalating Gray Zone Campaign
China’s People’s Armed Police Presents a Significant Force Multiplier During Armed Conflict
dive into Chinese
Military doctrine
Understand the Chinese military approach to conflict and gain insight into how it organizes, equips, and operates.
ATP 7-100.3
Chinese Tactics
Access the Army's doctrinal source on the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAA) tactics.
Observations and Insights
Contemporary Observations
of Global Events
TRADOC G2's foundational research and analysis relies on observations and insights gleaned from contemporary operational environments (OEs) and threats. These insights are documented in monthly running estimate products, which are then disseminated to the force. They serve to enhance understanding of the OE and are integral to TRADOC G2 analysis. This ensures that TRADOC solutions spanning doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities are grounded in a thorough understanding of the operational environment.
How China Fights in Large-Scale Combat Operations
This paper builds on the TRADOC Pamphlet 525-92, The Operational Environment 2024-2034: Large-Scale Combat Operations, which addresses 12 key conditions we assess are present in LSCO and the Army Techniques Publication 7-100.3, Chinese Tactics, which describes China’s military strategy, operational concepts, and the likely characteristics of PLA operations. This paper focuses on how China fights at the operational level of warfare. The U.S. Army must learn how China fights at the operational level to prepare for any conflict in the Indo-Pacific theater.
Learning and Engagement
Explore interactive training materials that educate on the People’s Liberation Army Army (PLAA) and how it fights and engage with the TRADOC G2 Training Community of Practice.
Interact
Use this interactive self-paced training material to learn about the PLA Army. Gain understanding of how the PLA Army fights, organizes, and equips.
LEarn
Read these snapshots that provide observations on what China is learning from Russia's war against Ukraine and the implications for the U.S.
Engage
Engage with the TRADOC G2 Training Community of Practice on MS Teams. Where TRADOC G2 experts welcome questions and feedback from the Force.
Watch
Watch a curated selection of videos to help understand how China fights and more.
Interact
Use this interactive self-paced training material to learn about the PLA Army. Gain understanding of how the PLA Army fights, organizes, and equips.
LEarn
Read these snapshots that provide observations on what China is learning from Russia's war against Ukraine and the implications for the U.S. (CAC Required).
Engage
Engage with the TRADOC Community of Practice on MS Teams. Where TRADOC G2 experts welcome questions and feedback from the Force. (CAC Required)
Watch
Start here to see important TRADOC G2 videos with challenges the U.S. Army must prepare for. (CAC Required)
Threat Minutes
Short-form videos to quickly understand the basics of the Threat. (YouTube)
BITE SIZE CHINA
BITE SIZE CHINA
Various documents and infographics describing characteristics and tactics of the People's Liberation Army.
Podcasts & Audio Books
Listen to key insights from professionals discussing Chinese Tactics. From Breaking Doctrine, ATP 7-100.3, and The Hindsight Podcast, we explore the intricacies of China’s fighting tactics.
How they fight infographics
Infographics on how the People's Liberation Army (PLA) fights and highlighted Warfighter Functions.
China: How They Fight
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
RECON
FIRES
LOGISTICS
AIR DEFENSE
ELECTRONIC WARFARE
Representing the Pacing
Threat in Training
Take your understanding of the pacing threat a step further by representing China using the Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE). Apply PLAA-informed strategies, capabilities, organizations, and tactics to your training events.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Explore a curated selection of additional resources to deepen your understanding of China and the PLA. Included are contributions from centers of excellences across the army, graphic training aids, and other external organizations and products that expand on knowledge and understanding of China.
Graphic Training Aids
Check out graphic training aids such as handbooks, cards, and posters that detail Chinese equipment, organization, and tactics.
Worldwide Equipment Guide
TRADOC G2’s unclassified database on military equipment
sTUDY cHINA
View the “Resources for Studying China” 20 page PowerPoint created by the Foreign Military Studies Office.
Other Contributors
View products from other military and government organizations.
OE Enterprise
The OE Enterprise is a wealth of knowledge with contributions from Mad Scientist, FMSO, Red Diamond, OE Watch, ODIN and more.
DIA’s China Military Power Study
2019 China Military Power Report (CMPR)
World factbook
The CIA World Factbook offers concise, current information on countries' geography, demographics, government, and economy.
Asian Studies Detachment
ASD, the largest and oldest OSINT unit in the DoD, tasked with gathering and sharing foreign-sourced, publicly-available information to support various military and intelligence needs, including those of USARPAC, USINDOPACOM, and the Intelligence Community.
Policy & Research Institutes
