Shaking the Heavens and Splitting the Earth: Chinese Air Force Employment Concepts in the 21st Century

Less than a decade ago, China’s air force was an antiquated service equipped almost exclusively with weapons based on 1950s-era Soviet designs and operated by personnel with questionable training according to outdated employment concepts. This monograph analyzes published Chinese and Western sources about current and future capabilities and employment concepts of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It describes how those capabilities and concepts might be realized in a conflict over Taiwan, assesses the implications of China implementing them, and provides recommendations about actions that should be taken in response.