China's military has made significant strides in integrating its air, navy, and missile forces for a potential real combat scenario.

Its extensive military reforms since 2015, which created new theater commands, were specifically designed to break down the traditional service-centric "stovepipes" and foster joint operations.

However, the true effectiveness of this integration in a prolonged, high-intensity conflict remains unproven and faces several key challenges.

A Shift to Joint Command

China has fundamentally restructured its military to support joint operations.

• New Theater Commands: The People's Liberation Army (PLA) replaced its seven military regions with five Joint Theater Commands. These commands are responsible for all branches of the military—including the Air Force, Navy, Army, and Rocket Force—in their designated strategic areas. This structure is intended to create a unified chain of command for specific contingencies, most notably a potential conflict over Taiwan.

• Joint Operations Doctrine: The PLA has issued new Guidelines on Joint Operations, which provide the doctrinal foundation for its new command structure. These guidelines emphasize the integration of all military domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyber.

• Unified C4ISR Systems: China is actively developing a networked command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) system to link all of its military services. This is designed to give commanders a common operating picture and allow for the rapid sharing of information.

Real-World Integration in Exercises

Recent Chinese military exercises, particularly those conducted around Taiwan, demonstrate an increasing level of integration between services. These drills are no longer just single-service events.

• Joint Sword Drills: Exercises like "Joint Sword" have involved the simultaneous deployment of naval warships, air force fighters and bombers, and the PLA Rocket Force's conventional missile brigades. The exercises simulate coordinated attacks on targets, demonstrating how a joint force would operate in a blockade or an amphibious assault.

• Role of the Rocket Force: The PLA Rocket Force, with its arsenal of conventional ballistic and cruise missiles, is central to this integration. Its missiles are designed to neutralize high-value targets like airfields, command centers, and aircraft carriers, paving the way for the PLA Air Force and Navy to operate with greater freedom and lethality.

Remaining Challenges

Despite these advancements, there are several factors that could limit the effectiveness of this integration in a real conflict:

• Lack of Combat Experience: The PLA's joint command structure and doctrine have never been tested under the stress of actual combat. No amount of training, no matter how realistic, can fully replicate the chaos and unpredictability of a real war.

• Centralized Command Culture: The PLA's deeply ingrained, top-down command culture, which is heavily influenced by the Communist Party, could inhibit the kind of rapid, decentralized decision-making that is crucial for success in a high-speed, integrated conflict.

• Technical and Communication Issues: While China has invested in a networked C4ISR system, the seamless interoperability and technical integration of different platforms and services remains a challenge. A breakdown in communications or sensor fusion could lead to catastrophic failures in a high-stakes scenario.