Quote Originally Posted by William F. Owen View Post
I'd equate it to those limitations to those that were very apparent in Soviet Russia. Talk star wars, but when push comes to shove, act caveman.

In the same way that I never did rate the Soviet Army in any way, except for mass, I don't see anything in the PLA that makes me think they are any better. Modernisation will get them to about where we were in the late 1980's. I don't see training and leadership as anywhere near what most NATO armies have.
I would tend to agree with you about the quality of the forces as a whole.
When you look at training good leaders (NCO's, Officers, Specialization of branches) they will always have problems with any real accomplishment in these areas as long as the cultural tendencies keep class, position, etc ahead of ingenuity, and capability of an individual.

Just as in any company you may train and have excellent skillsets among your workforce but hierachial thinking will keep you from taking advantages almost every time.

Not to mention throwing into the mix the efforts to play both sides of the table, (socialism / Capitalism) at the same time really does bring it's own set of challenges.