How have changes within the PLA aerospace forces' DOTMLPFP (Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy) framework contributed to their overall operational effectiveness across all major mission activities? Specifically, this analysis should evaluate the impact of these structural and conceptual changes within the context of seven distinct aerospace and support domains:
- Air Defense
- Conventional Precision Strike
- Electronic Warfare (EW) and Network Operations
- Naval Capabilities
- Non-War Military Activities
- Nuclear Missions
- Space Operations
- Support to Ground or Maritime Operations
- Diamond, Mary E., "From Prosperous-Nation-Strong-Military to China Dream: Securing China's Interests through Logistics Modernization," SAAS thesis, 2023, 101 pgs.
- Ferris, Maj. Philip, “The Rising Dragon: How Should the US and the International Community Respond?” AWC elective paper, 2019, 9 pgs.
- Fuller, Capt. Stephen, "China in Search of AI Supremacy," SOS AUAR, 2021, 7 pgs. (Published on Wild Blue Yonder, 12 March 2021)
- Hatt, Maj. Matthew, “The Bear, The Dragon and Hybrid Warfare: The Role of Internal Defense in Great Power Competition,” ACSC elective paper, 2020, 42 pgs.
- Norris, Lt. Col. Victor, "Countering Unrestricted Warfare: Preparing to Compete against China's Actual Strategy," AWC PSP, 2020, 37 pgs. Prize Winner: Douhet-Mitchell International Airpower Trophy
- Peacock, Col. Robert, "China's Three Warfares: Breaking Ideological Boundaries," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2019, 30 pgs.
- Smith, Maj. Michael D., "Dynamic Force Employment in the Indo-Pacific: Making a Case for Air Force Special Tactics," Air Force Fellows paper, 2021, 69 pgs.
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- Claypool, Capt. Andrew H. "Chinese UAV Integration: A New Era of Maritime Deterrence in the South China Sea," AFGC thesis, 2025.
- Claypool answers how changes in the PLA's aerospace forces contribute to maritime effectiveness by analyzing China's tactical integration of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and swarm/loiter UAVs in the South China Sea. He explains that these UAVs serve as the cornerstone of the PLA's Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) deterrence strategy, extending their naval domain awareness and targeting capabilities far beyond their shores. Fixed-wing Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) provide persistent ISR and the ability to autonomously complete the find, fix, track, target, engage, and assess (F2T2EA) kill chain, while rotary-wing systems act as flexible airborne extensions for PLA Navy (PLAN) surface vessels. By modernizing its force with these diverse unmanned systems, the PLA effectively challenges foreign freedom of navigation and enforces territorial claims well below the threshold of armed conflict.
- Owen, Maj. Christian R., "Will China Invade Taiwan? Lessons from Russia's Invasion of Ukraine," GCPME paper, 2024, 59 pgs.
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- Adsit, Maj. Lance A., "The Case for Nuclear Modernization," Air Force Fellows paper, 2021, 37 pgs.
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- Willey, Maj. Christopher, "A Tattered Nuclear Umbrella?: United States Extended Deterrence Effectiveness with South Korea," SANDS ACSC Paper, 2020, 37 pgs.
- Bogue, Lt. Col., "U.S.-China Space Competition & The Possibility of Cooperation," AWC West Space Seminar Paper, 2023, 33 pgs.
- Carlson, Joshua, "Sentinels of the Silent Sea: American and Chinese Competition in Space 2020-2050," ACSC paper, 2020, 40 pgs.
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- Crowell, Maj. Corey, "China Winning the Race for Responsive Space Launch," Air Force Fellows Op-Ed, 2023, 4 pgs.
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- Jones, Capt. Michael, "Gray Zone Conflict in Space: A South China Sea Case Study," SOS AUAR (Ideas and Weapons), 2020, 11 pgs.
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Peery, Maj. Oliver B., "Cyber Warfare in Space," GCPME thesis, 2025, 38 pgs.
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Ray, Maj. William C., "Islands on the Moon and in the South China Sea: China's Vision of Commercial Space," GCPME paper, 2021, 34 pgs.
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Sasaki, Fumiko, "A Risk-Benefit Analysis of China's Belt and Road Initiative Spatial Information Corridor: Implications for Chinese Global Expansion and US Strategy," published as an AU Press Kenney Paper on Indo-Pacific Security Studies, 2022, 114 pgs.
- Thorp, Isaac, "Countering Chinese Space Aggression with a Cooperative Security Strategy," Space Horizons Paper, ACSC, 2020, 22 pgs.
- Cobian, Maj. Leonardo, “Securing Our Artificial Intelligence: The Implications of the US Losing the 5G War to China” eSchool thesis, 2020
- Tortorici, Pete, "Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Examining US and Chinese Policy Mechanisms for Strategic Advantage in Emerging Technologies," AF Fellows Paper, 2020, 40 pgs.
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- Thorp, Isaac, "Countering Chinese Space Aggression with a Cooperative Security Strategy," Space Horizons Paper, ACSC, 2020, 22 pgs.
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- Alba, Lt. Col. Christopher, "The Coming Revolution in Maritime Warfare: The Next Devil's Device," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2025, 24 pgs.
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- Hansen, Col. R.D.E., "The Shift of Focus: Operating in a Maritime Domain," AWC elective (Joint Fires), 2020, 12 pgs.
- Henel, LCDR Alexander J., "Chinese Military Expansions: Effects on US Naval Power Projection and the National Defense Strategy," ACSC thesis, 2020, 45 pgs.
- Johnson, LCDR Kyle A., "Death from Below: How the US Navy Can Capitalize on 21st Century Submarine Technology," ACSC thesis, 2020, 38 pgs.
- Kirklin, Russell J., "It's a 'We Said, Xi Said' Situation: Analyzing CCP Perceptions of US Freedom of Navigation Operations," SAASS thesis, 2020, 99 pgs.
- McCaughan, Lt. Col. Ryan, et. al.,"Strengthening Taiwan's Asymmetric Defense: The Strategic Role of the C-130H in Aerial Sea Mine Deployment," AU Taiwan Deterrence WAR project, 2025, 25 pgs.
- Murrow, Maj. Mike, "Deterring Maritime Aggressors with MVSOT, VIPER and C-sUAS Technologies," ACSC elective (Intermediate Force Capabilities), 2024, 12 pgs.
- Somers, Col. Paul, "The Fight for Territorial Legitimacy within the South China Sea--How China's Militarization Could Shape the Future of the Region," Air Force Fellows paper, 2021, 28 pgs.
- Theriault, LCDR Luke "John Doe", "Moving the Fulcrum: Applying Lessons from Russia-Ukraine War on Asymmetric Naval Warfare to a Potential Defense of Taiwan against a Chinese Invasion," ACSC paper (PACAF RTF), 2024, 24 pgs.
- Veenhof, Maj. Nick, "An Analysis of the East China Sea ADIZ and its Consequences," ACSC elective paper, 2020, 19 pgs. Prize Winner: Outstanding International Officer Research Award
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- Wielert, Maj. Corey, "Slicing the Chinese Salami: Binding Engagement and International Law in the South China Sea," ACSC elective paper, 2020, 14 pgs.