Training

Instructor Led

Knowledge Systems has developed a series of courses intended for the full range of national security and defense industry professionals, from frontline troops of the uniformed services to the seniormost corporate leaders and policy makers seeking to better understand critical topics such as Communist China’s armed forces and Taiwan’s armed forces.

Instructor led training is available to support and supplement web-based training. Further in-depth review, analysis and discussion can enhance the quality of training and can be available onsite at varying classification levels depending on government requirements.

Web Based

The series of training courses below establish a common, foundational baseline for newcomers to the Sino-US and Indo-Pacific mission sets, either as stand-alone instruction or in preparation for more in-depth, China-specific academic, warfighting, or tradecraft training. The three-part series was created by defense and intelligence practitioners and informed by direct sources, including declassified intelligence, to most quickly, efficiently, and effectively raise an individual’s acumen on the armed forces of Communist China.

Introduction to China’s Armed Forces: Ancient Empire to Communist Revolution

Academics often link key events in human history to the cultural or political powers that were dominant at the time. In China, the periods marked by the rise, rule, and fall of imperial dynasties serve as the most common frame of reference up to the nationalist revolution of 1911. This first part of this course will focus on those imperial time periods during which some of China’s most noteworthy and enduring developments in the military domain occurred. Studying this period is key to understanding the political and military doctrine in China.

Introduction to China’s Armed Forces: The Mao Era

The second part of the course will explore China’s tumultuous years of post-imperial transformation. After rejecting centuries of monarchy, politicians and warlords fought for dominance while foreign, colonial powers exploited China’s weakness. China’s populace endured a near-constant state of socio-economic disruption fueled by political violence, civil war, and invasion. The successes and failures of key leaders from the founding of the republic through World War Two, both on and off the battlefield, helped set the conditions that led to the ultimate victory of the Chinese Communist Party that rules the country today.

Introduction to China’s Armed Forces: Modernization and Ascendency

The third part of the course will explore China’s path to military modernization. After the death of Mao, China faced the need to modernize their military forces. As China obtained capabilities and technologies from various diplomatic channels, it had to learn to adapt and ultimately become self-sufficient at developing military technologies. This course will investigate these technologies, their impacts on modern capabilities and how China is leveraging their modern military to project power on a global scale.

Introduction to Taiwan’s Armed Forces

As the Republic of China forces fled the mainland to the island of Taiwan, they had to protect the last bastion of their movement from defeat. This course will explore the path Taiwan took to protect and defend the island and the military modernization path that was critical in the shadow of mainland China. The course will also explore the military challenges Taiwan faces as China continues to develop modernization of their armed forces.