The Armed Forces of China

I'll just let you all know that this book is one of 2 that are required reading at the Australian Defence Force Academy (the Aussies' version of our West Point, Annapolis, and Air Force Academy all rolled up into one). They have one class there that is strictly an analysis of the modern PLA, taught by a professor from the PRC. Just FYI, the second required book is:China's Security - The New Roles of the MilitaryAnd the suggested reading list is:Lampton, David M. ed., The Making of Chinese Foreign and Security Policy in the Era of Reform (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001).Swaine, Michael D. Interpreting China's Grand Strategy: Past, Present, and Future (Santa Monica: RAND Corporation, 2000). Mulvenon, James C., Andrew N. D. Yang, Seeking Truth From Facts: A Retrospective on Chinese Military Studies in the Post-Mao Era (Santa Monica: Rand Corporation, 2001). Mulvenon, James C. and Richard H. Yang, The People's Liberation Army in the Information Age (Santa Monica: Rand Corporation, 1999). Bickford, Thomas J., Marching into the Abyss: The Changing Role of the People's Liberation Army in Chinese Politics (Ph.D. diss., University of California, 1995). Segal, Gerald and Richard H. Yang,, (eds.), Chinese Economic Reform: The Impact on Security (London: Routledge, 1996). Zheng, Shiping, Party vs. State in Post 1949 China: the Institutional Dilemma (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997).As you can see, the Aussies take the PRC very seriously.

You Ji's book is uniquely helpful to anyone interested in China's military. So many books and articles rely upon speculation and exageration when examining the PLA. However, with clear facts and interesting perspectives from Chinese source material, this book presents a solid analysis of the "modern" PLA and the challenges it faces. The evaluation therefore focuses more on naval and air forces rather than the "three three" structure of the group armies. For an American reader concerned about Pacific strategy, this concentration should not be a problem. No time is wasted with drawn out and replayed history of the Long March. That can be found elsewhere. You Ji instead tells the reader where China's military wants to go and what obstacles lie ahead. Maximizing new sources and perspectives, he presents a clear analysis.