People's Liberation Navy - Doctrine Doctrine, Theory, and
Practice The PLA does not have one specific word for doctrine,
and it does not use a word substitute for "doctrine" in
referring to its own operational theory or operational concepts.
What the PLA does write about is operational "theory" and
operational "practice." Therefore, understanding the linkage
between operational theory and operational practice in the PLA
is an important tool for identifying operational concepts. In
the PLA, the field of "military science," which is the link
between theory and practice, has two broad components: "basic
military theory" and "applied military theory." "Basic military
theory" articulates the fundamental "laws" that govern modern
military operations for the PLA. The PLA presents these
fundamental "laws" in its professional institutions, textbooks,
"doctrinal literature," and training as strategic "guidelines,"
operational "concepts," and tactical "guiding principles."
"Applied military theory" is the practical appl