China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has gone through many evolutions since it helped put the Communist Party in power in 1949. In the latest structural overhaul meant to help it become a modern fighting force, the PLA's seven military regions were streamlined into five theatres of command reporting to the Central Military Commission (CMC). Today, the PLA's actions are of global significance as tensions grow over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and China's border with India. China's military modernization is a major factor driving some observers' concerns about China's rise, China's intentions toward the United States and its allies and partners, and the role China aspires to play in the world. China's military progress also informs the widely-held view that the United States and China are engaged in a “great power competition.” Congressional actions on these issues could shape, and be shaped by, U.S. defense strategy, budgets, plans, and programs; U.S. policy toward China, U.S. partners and allies in the IndoPacific, and the region more generally; and U.S. defense industrial policies, among other things. The most recent example of PLA modernization and reform stems from a series of endeavors enacted by chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping, targeting what he termed the “Five Incapables.” These incapables highlight current PLA weaknesses that would prevent it from achieving military modernization by 2035 and becoming a world class military by 2049. A key component of these efforts is the development and deployment of combat credible weapons systems capable of holding key adversary assets at risk, and enabling the PLA to expand their areas of influence outside of mainland China. As the book addresses this crucial issue quite deftly, it is hoped that it would prove to be a source of great information for the reader.
About the Author:
Dr. Amitabh Bhatt, B.A. (Hons.), M.A. (Political Science), and M.Phil, from Delhi University, qualified UGC NET a reputed name in the sphere to which he pertains to. He worked as Lecturer at Satyawati Co.Ed. College, under Delhi University on adhoc basis. At present he is Asst. Professor at M.P.G. College, Mussorie under (H.N.B.) University, Srinagar, Garhwal. He is also pursuing his Ph.D. at present. He has written several articles on various political and social issues and edited four books. |
