America and its allies should understand an important fact about China’s armed forces. The People’s Liberation Army is a part of the Chinese Communist Party and not an instrument of the state. It is the Chinese Communist Party’s armed wing. In other words, China’s military is run and is loyal only to the Party and its leader President Xi, not to the Chinese people themselves despite the name.

Many career military officers are Communist Party members, and units at the company level and above have political officers responsible for personnel decisions, propaganda, and counterintelligence. These political officers are also responsible for ensuring that party orders are carried out throughout the People’s Liberation Army. Chinese Communist Party committees, led by the political officers and military commanders, make major decisions in units at all levels. Therefore, China’s soldiers, sailors and airmen resemble the political/military ideologues of the former Soviet Union who answered to Stalin, faithfully and willingly carrying out party orders. This stands in stark contrast to the armed forces of America.