ABSTRACT

Beijing has formally discarded its military doctrine of the 1960s—the doctrine of fight early, fight big, and nuclear war. During the 1960s, Beijing's leaders had believed that conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union was inevitable and would culminate in a nuclear war. The United States and the Soviet Union are the only countries with the military capabilities to launch a world war. However, with equal nuclear capabilities, neither is confident of being able to win a nuclear war. Scientific and technological progress has produced a new military technology, which in turn will enable a new type of warfare: the limited war. Political and diplomatic considerations further constrain the conduct of limited warfare. In contrast to the old people's war, the new doctrine allows for a Chinese counteroffensive, pursuing the enemy across the border into enemy territory. The open-door policy of the last decade had led Chinese analysts to pay more attention to maritime issues.