Research – Published May 22, 2025
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have committed significant efforts to studying the Russia-Ukraine war and drawing lessons for Chinese policy. What lessons are CCP leaders taking from the Russia-Ukraine war and how do these lessons influence China’s future policies? The authors assessed CCP and PLA views of the war’s drivers and outcomes to understand the adaptations that China will likely make for its own competition with the United States. By understanding China’s perspective on and adaptations resulting from the war, U.S. policymakers can better inform decisions related to force development, posture, and employment.