A History of the Modern Chinese Army

Since the establishment of the Red Army in 1927, China's military has responded to profound changes in Chinese society, particularly its domestic politics, shifting economy, and evolving threat perceptions. Recently tensions between China and Taiwan and other east Asian nations have aroused great interest in the extraordinary transformation and new capabilities of the Chinese army. In A History of the Modern Chinese Army, Xiaobing Li, a former member of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), provides a comprehensive examination of the PLA from the Cold War to the beginning of the twenty-first century that highlights the military's central function in modern Chinese society. In the 1940s, the Chinese army was in its infancy, and many soldiers were rural conscripts and volunteers who had received little formal schooling. The Chinese military rapidly increased its mobility and weapon strength, and the Korean War and Cold War offered intense combat experience that not only allowed soldiers to hone their fighting techniques but also helped China to develop military tactics tailored to the surrounding countries whose armies posed the most immediate threats. Yet even in the 1970s, the completion of a middle school education (nine years) was considered above-average, and only 4 percent of the 224 top Chinese generals had any college credit hours. However, in 1995 the high command began to institute massive reforms to transform the PLA from a labor-intensive force into a technology-intensive army. Continually seeking more urban conscripts and emphasizing higher education, the PLA Reserve Officer Training and Selection program recruited students from across the nation. These reservists would become commissioned officers upon graduation, and they majored in atomic physics, computer science, and electrical engineering. Grounding the text in previously unreleased official Chinese government and military records as well as the personal testimonies of more than two hundred PLA soldiers, Li charts the development of China's armed forces against the backdrop of Chinese society, cultural traditions, political history, and recent technological advancements. A History of the Modern Chinese Army links China's military modernization to the country's growing international and economic power and provides a unique perspective on China's esttablishment and maintenance of one of the world's most advanced military forces. In A History Of The Modern Chinese Army, Xiaobing Li, A Former Member Of The People's Liberation Army (pla), Provides A Comprehensive Examination Of The Pla From The Cold War To The Beginning Of The Twenty-first Century That Highlights The Military's Central Function In Modern Chinese Society. A History Of The Modern Chinese Army Links China's Military Modernization To The Country's Growing International And Economic Power And Provides A Unique Perspective On China's Establishment And Maintenance Of One Of The World's Most Advanced Military Forces.--book Jacket. Introduction -- Peasants And Revolutions -- The Formative Years -- Transformation In Korea -- Russianizing The Pla -- Building Missiles And The Bomb -- Crises And Politics -- Border Conflicts And The Cultural Revolution -- Survivor And Reformer -- Technocrats And The New Generation -- Conclusion. Xiaobing Li. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 371-394) And Index. Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 12 Note on Transliteration......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 1. Peasants and Revolutions......Page 30 2. The Formative Years......Page 62 3. Transformation in Korea......Page 96 4. Russianizing the PLA......Page 130 5. Building Missiles and the Bomb......Page 164 6. Crises and Politics......Page 194 7. Border Conflicts and the Cultural Revolution......Page 222 8. Survivor and Reformer......Page 258 9. Technocrats and the New Generation......Page 288 Conclusion......Page 312 Notes......Page 318 Selected Bibliography......Page 388 B......Page 412 C......Page 413 D......Page 415 G......Page 416 H......Page 417 J......Page 418 L......Page 419 M......Page 420 N......Page 421 P......Page 422 R......Page 425 S......Page 426 T......Page 427 W......Page 428 Y......Page 429 Z......Page 430 Provides an examination of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) which offers insights into the military's central place in modern Chinese society. This work offers a study of modern Chinese armed forces in the context of the nation's cultural traditions, its Communist revolution, and technological innovations.