> The PLA, unlike the armed forces of the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other regional heavyweights, is by definition not a professional fighting force. Rather, it is a party army, the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Indeed, all career officers in the PLA are members of the CCP and all units at the company level and above have political officers assigned to enforce party control...Chinas military is intentionally organized to bureaucratically enforce risk-averse behavior, because an army that spends too much time training is an army that is not engaging in enough political indoctrination. Beijings worst nightmare is that the PLA could one day forget that its number one mission is protecting the Communist Partys civilian leaders against all its enemies especially when the CCPs enemies are domestic student or religious groups campaigning for democratic rights, as happened in 1989 and 1999, respectively.
And in 1992, US marines marched into Los Angeles because domestic groups wanted democratic rights, like not being beaten by police officers once down on the ground.
As far as political loyalty in the army for communist countries - Stalin purged his army of generals whose loyalty was suspect prior to World War II. Hitler did not. Stalin won the war, and Hitler's high command tried to kill him.
Stalin purged 'his' army of any and all officers (not just generals) showing the remotest competence for fear that they could become a threat to his power. It was nothing to do with their 'loyalty'.
He proceeded to wage the war with an incompetence only equaled, and ultimately exceeded by Hitler. The cost in lives was appalling. Stalin did not win. Hitler lost.
And in 1992, US marines marched into Los Angeles because domestic groups wanted democratic rights, like not being beaten by police officers once down on the ground.
As far as political loyalty in the army for communist countries - Stalin purged his army of generals whose loyalty was suspect prior to World War II. Hitler did not. Stalin won the war, and Hitler's high command tried to kill him.