The Chinese Army Today Tradition and Transformation for the 21st Century [Paperback]

The Chinese Army Todayis a comprehensive study of the Chinese military, examining its ground forces in a level of detail not found in any other contemporary works. This new, revised edition has been fully updated to take account of recent changes in the institution.

In 1999, the military modernization program of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army increased in intensity and achieved a focus not seen in the previous two decades. Based primarily on actual Chinese sources, this book details these changes and puts them in the context of the many traditions that still remain.

Written by a retired professional military officer who has served in China, the text uses first-hand observation of the Chinese military and three decades of military experience to weave many disparate threads from official Chinese statements, documents, and media reports into an integrated whole. The author also conducts an in-depth exploration into the many forces that constitute the Peoples Liberation Army.

This is an essential book for all students of Chinese military and security affairs, and highly recommended for students of Chinese Politics, Asian Security, and International Relations and Strategic Studies, in general.

1. Introduction  2. What is the PLA?  3. Who is the PLA?  4. Where is the PLA?  5. How Will the PLA Fight?  6. What Equipment Does the PLA Use?  7. How Does the PLA Train?  8. What is the Role of the PLA in Chinese Society?  9. Conclusions and the Ghosts of Tiananmen

'Dennis Blasko has written the definitive study of Chinas ground forces, but this book also illuminates many other aspects of Chinas military today. The author brings to this assessment a career worth of knowledge and experience in the U.S. Army, as a specialist on the Chinese military. Few, if any, know the Chinese army better than Blasko. His judlÃ+