ABSTRACT
Few issues have been more pivotal in the history of modern China than those associated with the acquisition and use of military power. The leaders of China's revolution would thus be among the last to deny either the efficacy or necessity of utilizing military means to achieve political ends. Analysis rooted in ongoing issues of organizational and domestic politics yields a far more satisfactory interpretation of these events. Lo's apparent advocacy of a more forceful Chinese response to American escalation occurred at the time of the initial stirrings of the Cultural Revolution. However, Chinese statements rarely permit definitive judgment on the precise directions and consequences of such organizational needs. A cursory review of the distribution of military capabilities in various sectors reveals an additional key fact. The bulk of China's military forces remain infantry units conspicuously lacking in the mobility, firepower, and logistic systems that might render them a fully effective combat force.
