ABSTRACT
This is a book about civil-military relations in China. Such a book is important and timely for several reasons. First, the dynamic and changing relations between the Chinese civilian authorities such as the Party and government institutions on the one hand, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on the other, are clearly significant for the governance of China. Whether such relationship remains differentiated and stable, for instance, determines whether the governance and development of China can proceed smoothly.1 In addition, the degree of civil-military cooperation and the level of civil-military conflict over foreign policy may have major implications for China’s strategic behavior. Finally, the extent to which the PLA is mobilized into domestic politics, or demobilized from it so that it can concentrate on military modernization will determine whether China’s national security objectives can be realized, and the outcome will invariably affect Asian security.
