Research Report on Chinese Military Capabilities

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (hereafter the Commission) invites submission of proposals from contractors capable of providing a one-time report investigating the on-going modernization and buildup of PRC military forces. Reviewing unclassified information from 2000 to the present, this study would assess their ability to carry out military action against Taiwan and against U.S. and allied forces and assets.



Key issues and questions to be addressed by the report are:



Are the expanding military operations of the PLA consistent with the peacetime operations of a professionalizing great power military, or is the PLA currently operating on a wartime footing? If the latter, what indicators would reveal this?

How capable is Taiwan of defending itself against a PLA attack, and what options are available to the U.S. and its allies in the event of such an attack?

The report would examine key policy statements and pronouncements by PRC civilian and military leaders during the timeframe in question (2000 to the present), and analyze Chinas capability and intent to undertake military action.

The report would examine the most salient aspects of the PLAs build-up of more capable platforms in the Taiwan Strait area mobile missiles, modern naval combatants, third- and fourth-generation aircraft, etc. and assess the extent to which this increases the PLAs readiness for a regional conflict.

The report would also examine the operational activities of the PLA since 2000 the ASAT test, air and maritime probes into Japanese and Taiwan airspace, major military exercises, cyber espionage, etc. which have increased the capacity of the PLA to fight in a regional military conflict.



A full description of the request for proposal may be found on the Commission's website at: www.uscc.gov