Then we can say the PLA lack of combat experience --
FOR DECADES -- is because of the PLA chickened out of many opportunities to gain actual combat experience.
Facts on Who Benefits From Keeping Saddam Hussein In Power
Where was China when her ally -- Iraq -- needed help against the evil US ? Plenty of opportunities for the PLA to gain combat experience in Desert Storm, was it not ? Actual US combat deaths was 147. Non-combat deaths were higher, of course. But how many actual US combat deaths could there be if the PLA actually entered the fight ?