When Mao Zedong proclaimed The People’s Republic of China in 1949, China was a poor and wrecked society after years of continuous wars. For centuries, in fact, China had been seen as a sort of plunder-zone to be invaded, and then a backwater until the late 1980s, when domestic policy brought about monumental changes. The result was that in the past quarter-century China has grown to be the second largest economy in the world, and its military has grown proportionately.

Successive decades of economic growth have transformed China—in addition to the weapons revolution during the computer age—so that by now the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has become a modern fighting force. No longer having to rely on massed infantry attacks, it now features a formidable arsenal including nuclear submarines, ICBMs, stealth fighters, and modern battle tanks. Perhaps ominously for other maritime powers, the Chinese have also focused on beyond-the-horizon missile technology, as well as anti-aircraft systems, and have also explored the possibilities of cyber-warfare.

What is today’s PLA really like? What are its traditions and histories, and how is it armed and equipped? How does it recruit and train? This book describes some of the lesser known battles and wars the Chinese have undertaken, and the development of their key weapons systems. The United States, having opened the door to “drone warfare,” have had an attentive audience for such technologies in Beijing.

The last chapter provides thoughts on how the Chinese view matters of security. It is not yet known whether foreign powers can still enforce their territorial wills on China, but future attempts will meet an increased challenge. This book will be of interest not only to general readers but to policy-makers and militaries in the West, who may not yet realize that a new China has replaced the old.

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Preface

1 Early Years of the Chinese PLA
2 Post-1949 Developments
3 The Chinese PLA Today
4 Key Arms
5 Chinese Weapons and the Armaments Industry
6 China’s Strategic View

Afterword: The New Model PLA?
Appendices
Bibliography
Index

"I found the book to be an extremely comprehensive read... This is a well-researched, and well-sourced history of the Chinese military."

"With the tense situations we are now seeing in Asia, it is a perfect time to look at the armed might of one of the largest players. The subtitle says it is about the Chinese People's Liberation army, but in its pages you will find information about China's land, sea, and air capabilities...a well written clear and concise history and appreciation of the Chinese armed forces. The appendices alone are worth the price of the book. There are also thirty-four pages of photographs of old and new equipment and people. This book fills a void that has existed in much of the west of the true Chinese capabilities at this point in time."

"Written from a Chinese point of view, this work details the history and current capabilities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from 1927 to the present. ... explains issues of recruitment, training, history and battles, equipment, and uniforms. The final chapter looks at China’s strategic view and its perceptions of threats to national security. The book includes a wealth of color historical photos."

“Many of us will know about Russian, US and NATO armed forces, so very interesting to see this level of detail on the modern Chinese PLA. It has put China in a very different position from old.”