A New Step Forward in PLA Professionalization Publication: China Brief Volume: 21 Issue: 5 March 15, 2021 02:24 PM Age: 2 weeks Image: People’s Liberation Army officers march in a parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 2019 (Image source: Xinhua). Introduction A linchpin of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s transformation into a “world-class military” is whether it can recruit, cultivate, and retain talent, especially among the officer corps tasked with planning and conducting future wars. Uneven progress over the past few decades has meant that deeper reforms to the officer system are necessary under the leadership of Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman Xi Jinping (习近平). New regulations announced in January 2021 suggest a commitment to clarifying hierarchical relationships between officers, improving the officer management system, incentivizing high performers, and recruiting and retaining officers with the right skills. Nonetheless, several challenges and complications remain.