The General Staff Department (GSD) performs staff and operations functions for the PLA and had major responsibility for implementing military modernisation plans. Headed by the Chief of General Staff, the department served as the general staff headquarters for the ground forces and contained directorates for the three other armed services: Air Force, Navy, and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force). The GSD includes functionally organised sub-departments (also known as Grade 2 departments) for operations, intelligence, communications, training, adjutant and force structure, mobilisation, electronic countermeasures and radar, service arms, army aviation, surveying and mapping, politics, etc.
The GSD is the leading organ of all military work of the nation’s armed forces. It organises and leads the military construction of the nation’s armed forces, and organises and commands their military operations. Its responsibilities include:
Planning, organizing, and directing military operations
Conducting staff work for the top leadership of the PLA to assist them in
decision-making
Serving as the lead organization in the PLA for military modernization
program decisions
Coordinating the work of the other three general headquarters
Administering the military legislation and military legal system
Providing guidance for logistical support
Providing guidance for military science research
Providing guidance for defence science and technology studies
