This syllabus is organized to build understanding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in a step-by-step fashion based on one hour of reading five nights a week for four weeks. In total, the key readings add up to roughly 800 pages, rarely more than 40–50 pages for a night. We assume no prior knowledge of the PLA, only an interest in developing a clearer sense of Chinese military affairs. The objective is to help you read beyond the headlines. Our goal is to provide you with the needed tools and knowledge to assist others in researching Chinese military developments and begin developing your own thoughts.
Syllabus-PLA_Military-2024-update-Final.pdfThe American Mandarin Society is dedicated to helping Americans develop and maintain their Chinese language skills, deepen their policy knowledge, and build the professional networks that allow them to engage in the vital work of strengthening U.S. competitiveness.