Patterns in China's Use of Force Evidence from History and Doctrinal Writings

by Burles, Mark; Shulsky, Abram N.

• ISBN13: 9780833028044
• ISBN10: 0833028049
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-03-13
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

The People's Republic of China has often used force in ways that surprised and perplexed other countries. The Chinese appear to believe that, by carefully designing military operations to achieve maximum political effect, they can successfully use force even when the overall military balace is unfavorable. China's past successes in using force in this way while avoiding a massive reaction from its adversaries may give it confidence that it can succeed in the future as well.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Summary	vii
Acknowledgments	xiii
Abbreviations	xv
Introduction	1	(4)
Patterns in the PRC's use of Force	5	(16)
Characteristics of Chinese Use of Force in an Actual Conflict	5	(11)
Surprise	5	(5)
Psychological-Political Shock	10	(5)
Opportunistic Timing	15	(1)
Characteristics of Chinese Use of Force in a Crisis	16	(5)
Chinese National Military Strategy	21	(16)
What is National Military Strategy?	21	(1)
Evolution of the PRC's National Military Strategy	22	(7)
People's War	22	(4)
People's War Under Modern Conditions	26	(3)
The Shift to ``Local War Under High-Tech Conditions''	29	(8)
Primacy of Economic Development	32	(1)
Nuclear Weapons	33	(1)
Other Factors	34	(1)
Net Effect of These Constraints	35	(2)
Chinese use of Force in the Future	37	(8)
Extrapolating to Account for a Stronger China	37	(2)
Use of Force Against a Weaker Power	39	(2)
Use of Force Against a Stronger Power or the Client of a Stronger Power	41	(1)
Creating a Crisis with Respect to a Stronger Power	42	(3)
Local War under High-Tech Conditions	45	(16)
Reform and Modernization	48	(5)
Challenges the PLA Confronts	53	(4)
Threat Perceptions	57	(4)
Application of the strategy: Dealing with the United States	61	(12)
U.S. Vulnerabilities	62	(3)
Chinese Military Options	65	(5)
Political Strategies	70	(3)
Conclusions	73	(6)
Appendix A note on Chinese Strategic Culture	79	(16)
Bibliography	95