its evident PLAAF is inferior to USAAF in terms of training, equipment, experiences, number and fund.
it is going to be at least 20-30 years for China to even catch-up with USAAF. but in terms of experience depends how the politics play out in the near future.
the thing worries PLA the most is the C4SI systems, until China has completed Beidou globale navigation satellite systems and other military surveillance satellite systems then it can be called indigenous Chinese C4SI system...... intelligence is the key in future warfare no matter its on the ground or in the sky. it cant be bought!
Combat experience is not needed but nice to have.
Experience in terms of training is another thing. Military excerises will cover the PLAAF's purpose.
What is the PLAAF's purpose?
It is air denial! They don't need to fly half way across the world. Currently as i've said the PLA and its arms have limited offensive capability. They don't want a war half way across the world. Even a war in Taiwan is logistical nightmare for the PLA.
PLAAF's goal is simple. Stop the enemy air force from supporting their ground troops. In the case of nations like Vietnam, the PLAAF may take the offensive pending on the condition of their air denial assets.
Think about some of the other things.
The PLAAF have some odd 400 airfields, some combat, some helicopter landing pads. But they have 4000 aircraft! and 400 000 PLAAF staff!
thats huge! (keep in mind these numbers are from the back of my head)
this just leads us to assume that they intend on supporting and not moving. It is not a very effercescent air force, it is however large with a purpose.
In contrast a similar airforce, is the IAF.
Its airbases are odd 400 and considerably less aircraft and a third of the staff.
Thats an airforce, that wants to move where necessary. Although currently around Pakistan.
This difference may have been the result of combat experience with Pakistan. The Indo Pak conflicts were quick and highly sophisticated conflicts, using all the arms of the military, navy air force etc...
Then the IAF and PAF have international exercises that keep them in the know and loop. Allow them to learn and advance their tactics, to their machines.
Its reasonable to assume, the PLAAF in terms of operational capability, want what the IAF currently have, both interms of technology and the tactics that complement the advanced weaponry.
Trying to get where the USAF/USN right now, is far to expensive and does not meet their needs.
Unless the PLAAF and PLAN want to fight a USSR and wars in the middle east and Africa.