As the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has modernized into a more capable global force, it has significantly expanded its international military engagement in support of China’s foreign policy objectives. Drawing on a new National Defense University monograph and updated database, this analysis examines trends in PLA military diplomacy from 2002 to 2024, focusing on three key activities: senior-level visits, naval port calls, and joint exercises.

The PLA has historically been inward-facing. Even after China’s post-1978 opening, PLA foreign engagements remained limited, highly scripted, and more symbolic than substantive — shaped by an organizational culture of secrecy. Today, however, military diplomacy has become a vital tool of Chinese statecraft. It serves both strategic and operational aims: shaping the international environment in Beijing’s favor, laying groundwork for future overseas access, and enabling intelligence gathering and operational learning from foreign militaries.

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