Which statement describes the PLA view on air power's role in the defense zone?

• A. The enemy is deterred from operating aircraft in the defensive zone
• B. Air power is unnecessary
• C. Ground forces rely on air
• D. Aerial superiority is the sole objective

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how air power is used to shape a defense zone: the PLA aims to deter enemy air operations from taking place inside the defended area. In PLA thinking, a robust, multi-layer air-defense network and integrated firepower create a protective bubble that makes entering or operating within the defense zone too costly or risky for the adversary. That deterrent effect keeps enemy aircraft out and denies them the freedom to conduct air missions there, which is why this statement best reflects PLA practice.

Air power is by no means deemed unnecessary; rather, its role is to deter and, if needed, contest air operations as part of a broader defense-in-depth. The idea that ground forces rely on air is not the central point of the defense zone concept, and the notion that aerial superiority is the sole objective overlooks the PLA’s emphasis on combining air defense with ground and other force capabilities to deny, deter, and defeat threats within the defense area.