China’s military modernization is outpacing its ability to train personnel effectively. While the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is acquiring cutting-edge hardware at an astonishing rate, its personnel system—from recruitment and training to retention and institutional culture—has not yet fully caught up to the demands of modern warfare.

This creates a significant "people gap" that could be a major vulnerability in a high-intensity conflict.

The Training Modernization

The PLA is aware of this problem and has made major reforms to its training and education. It's shifting from a conscription-based force to a more professional one. It has:

• Improved Training Scenarios: The PLA is conducting more complex and unscripted exercises that are closer to real combat conditions, including joint-service drills.

• Centralized Training: Basic and technical training have been centralized in dedicated institutions to ensure a more consistent standard of instruction and reduce the burden on operational units.

• Emphasis on Technology: Training now focuses heavily on "intelligentized" warfare, which integrates AI, robotics, and big data. The PLA is recruiting more educated personnel, particularly those with science and engineering backgrounds.

The Persistent "People Problem"

Despite these changes, several critical challenges remain:

• Lack of Combat Experience: The PLA has not fought a major war since its border conflict with Vietnam in 1979. This means its personnel, including senior commanders and instructors, have no firsthand experience with the chaos, stress, and unpredictability of real combat. This limits the realism of training and the ability to improvise.

• Retention Issues: The PLA struggles to retain highly skilled personnel. The competitive private sector in China offers better pay and opportunities for college-educated recruits, who often find it difficult to integrate into the PLA's rigid hierarchy. Anecdotal evidence suggests a high turnover rate among educated soldiers, which hinders the development of a professional, experienced non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps.

• Cultural and Institutional Barriers: The PLA is the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and political loyalty is prioritized above all else. This can create a rigid, top-down command structure that stifles initiative and independent decision-making—qualities that are essential for success in modern, fast-paced warfare.