Over the past decade, under Xi Jinping, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has undergone profound reforms intended to support China’s objective of building a world-class military by the middle of the century. The reorganisation of command structures, the strengthening of joint operations, armed forces modernisation, technological innovation and tighter control by the Communist Party have reshaped Chinese armed forces. These developments have unfolded amid intensifying Sino-American rivalry, growing tensions across the Pacific Rim and China’s broader effort to strengthen its strategic position and military effectiveness.
This conference will examine China’s military reforms in the Xi era through two complementary expert perspectives. Dr James CHAR, Assistant Professor in the China Programme at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore) is a specialist in the PLA, Chinese civil-military relations, military modernisation and security policy. He will present the Chinese perspective, explaining the reforms, their objectives, evolution and current results. Dr Joel WUTHNOW, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs (Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.) is a specialist in Chinese military affairs, PLA modernisation, Chinese strategy, joint operations and Indo-Pacific security. He will present the American perspective, examining how these reforms are assessed in the United States and what their impact is on US defence planning, the regional balance of power and American strategic conclusions.
Through these complementary perspectives, the conference will help deepen understanding of a decade of Chinese military transformation within the broader security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, while fostering reflection on its implications for American strategic priorities and its consequences for European countries.
Research lines: Indo-Pacific
Source image: © Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China
Evening conference
China’s Military Reforms in the Xi Era, 2016-2026: A Decade in Review
Dr James CHAR
(S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore)
Dr Joel WUTHNOW (National Defense University, Washington, D.C.)
Moderator: Xavier BARA
Language : English
Simultaneous interpretation in Dutch and French will depend on the progress of the renovation work in the Frank De Winne conference room and cannot be guaranteed at this time.
Please note that online participation will not be possible.
17 November 2026, 17:00 – 18:30
> 16:30 – Registration
> 17:00 – Conference
> 18:30 – Reception
Campus Renaissance
Rue Hobbema/Hobbemastraat, 8
1000 Brussels