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The Dragon's Teeth
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army—Its History, Traditions, and Air Sea and Land Capability in the 21st Century
by Benjamin Lai
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Pub Date
Sep 21 2016
| Archive Date
Sep 21 2016
Description
When Mao Zedong proclaimed The People’s Republic of China in 1949, China was a poor and wrecked society after years of continuous wars. For centuries, in fact, China had been seen as a sort of plunder-zone to be invaded, and then a backwater until the late 1980s, when domestic policy brought about monumental changes. The result was that in the past quarter-century China has grown to be the second largest economy in the world, and its military has grown proportionately. Successive decades of economic growth have transformed China—in addition to the weapons revolution during the computer age—so that by now the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has become a modern fighting force. No longer having to rely on massed infantry attacks, it now features a formidable arsenal including nuclear submarines, ICBMs, stealth fighters, and modern battle tanks. Perhaps ominously for other maritime powers, the Chinese have also focused on beyond-the-horizon missile technology, as well as anti-aircraft systems, and have also explored the possibilities of cyber-warfare.
What is today’s PLA really like? What are its traditions and histories, and how is it armed and equipped? How does it recruit and train? This book describes some of the lesser known battles and wars the Chinese have undertaken, and the development of their key weapons systems. The United States, having opened the door to “drone warfare,” have had an attentive audience for such technologies in Beijing.
The last chapter provides thoughts on how the Chinese view matters of security. It is not yet known whether foreign powers can still enforce their territorial wills on China, but future attempts will meet an increased challenge. This book will be of interest not only to general readers but to policy-makers and militaries in the West, who may not yet realize that a new China has replaced the old.
When Mao Zedong proclaimed The People’s Republic of China in 1949, China was a poor and wrecked society after years of continuous wars. For centuries, in fact, China had been seen as a sort of...
Description
When Mao Zedong proclaimed The People’s Republic of China in 1949, China was a poor and wrecked society after years of continuous wars. For centuries, in fact, China had been seen as a sort of plunder-zone to be invaded, and then a backwater until the late 1980s, when domestic policy brought about monumental changes. The result was that in the past quarter-century China has grown to be the second largest economy in the world, and its military has grown proportionately. Successive decades of economic growth have transformed China—in addition to the weapons revolution during the computer age—so that by now the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has become a modern fighting force. No longer having to rely on massed infantry attacks, it now features a formidable arsenal including nuclear submarines, ICBMs, stealth fighters, and modern battle tanks. Perhaps ominously for other maritime powers, the Chinese have also focused on beyond-the-horizon missile technology, as well as anti-aircraft systems, and have also explored the possibilities of cyber-warfare.
What is today’s PLA really like? What are its traditions and histories, and how is it armed and equipped? How does it recruit and train? This book describes some of the lesser known battles and wars the Chinese have undertaken, and the development of their key weapons systems. The United States, having opened the door to “drone warfare,” have had an attentive audience for such technologies in Beijing.
The last chapter provides thoughts on how the Chinese view matters of security. It is not yet known whether foreign powers can still enforce their territorial wills on China, but future attempts will meet an increased challenge. This book will be of interest not only to general readers but to policy-makers and militaries in the West, who may not yet realize that a new China has replaced the old.
A Note From the Publisher
Notes
WE DO NOT OFFER KINDLE FILES FOR FREE DOWNLOAD. PLEASE NOTE THIS FILE AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD IS A PDF- NOT A KINDLE FILE, AND IT MAY NOT WORK WITH CERTAIN KINDLE DEVICES, AS IT IS NOT A KINDLE FILE. KINDLE FILES WILL BE FOR SALE VIA AMAZON.COM
Notes
WE DO NOT OFFER KINDLE FILES FOR FREE DOWNLOAD. PLEASE NOTE THIS FILE AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD IS A PDF- NOT A KINDLE FILE, AND IT MAY NOT WORK WITH CERTAIN KINDLE DEVICES, AS IT IS NOT A...
A Note From the Publisher
Notes
WE DO NOT OFFER KINDLE FILES FOR FREE DOWNLOAD. PLEASE NOTE THIS FILE AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD IS A PDF- NOT A KINDLE FILE, AND IT MAY NOT WORK WITH CERTAIN KINDLE DEVICES, AS IT IS NOT A KINDLE FILE. KINDLE FILES WILL BE FOR SALE VIA AMAZON.COM
Marketing Plan
Our efforts will include:
• Trade, library and direct-audience review mailing
to local, regional and national
publications
• Catalog and website advertising
• Direct-mail and internet promotion
• Simultaneous launches in the US and UK
• Sales presentations to all major chain stores,
select local bookstores, national catalog
booksellers
and book clubs
Our efforts will include:
• Trade, library and direct-audience review mailing
to local, regional and national
publications
• Catalog and website advertising
• Direct-mail and internet...
Marketing Plan
Our efforts will include:
• Trade, library and direct-audience review mailing
to local, regional and national
publications
• Catalog and website advertising
• Direct-mail and internet promotion
• Simultaneous launches in the US and UK
• Sales presentations to all major chain stores,
select local bookstores, national catalog
booksellers
and book clubs
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Hardcover |
| ISBN |
9781612003887 |
| PRICE |
$32.95 (USD)
|
Additional Information
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Hardcover |
| ISBN |
9781612003887 |
| PRICE |
$32.95 (USD)
|
Average rating from 1 member
Featured Reviews
Dave B, Reviewer
In under a century, communist China has risen from somewhat humble beginnings to take its place amongst the world's super-powers. A significant part of that rise has been the development of its armed forces - the People's Liberation Army, Navy and Air Forces, as well as other paramilitary forces. The Dragon's Teeth serves as a history lesson of significant events and milestones - primarily since the Second World War - which contributed to the development of those forces. For the most part, it stays out of the political realm, which one might have expected in such a history.
From an outside perspective, I have always thought of China as something of a little brother to Soviet Russia, with a lot of their military developments either being derived directly from, or copied from weapons systems which originated in that country. The Dragon's Teeth outlines how that is true to an extent, but also covers the domestic development and armament industries which exist. While not going into the political side of the relationship, it also examines the rifts which occurred between the two countries in the late 20th Century, and the military consequences which resulted from that.
I found the book to be an extremely comprehensive read, although I did skip over a few parts which did not particularly interest me. I realise that it was written primarily as a historical look at the PLA, but I would have appreciated more information about China's cyber operations. There are several off-hand mentions of the development of cyber capability, but the author didn't explore this in any depth. I acknowledge that this may have resulted from a lack of available material, and that to some degree it was beyond the scope of the book; but at the same time, it is a future battlefield that the world is going to have to compete on.
This is a well-researched, and well-sourced history of the Chinese military.
Featured Reviews
Dave B, Reviewer
In under a century, communist China has risen from somewhat humble beginnings to take its place amongst the world's super-powers. A significant part of that rise has been the development of its armed forces - the People's Liberation Army, Navy and Air Forces, as well as other paramilitary forces. The Dragon's Teeth serves as a history lesson of significant events and milestones - primarily since the Second World War - which contributed to the development of those forces. For the most part, it stays out of the political realm, which one might have expected in such a history.
From an outside perspective, I have always thought of China as something of a little brother to Soviet Russia, with a lot of their military developments either being derived directly from, or copied from weapons systems which originated in that country. The Dragon's Teeth outlines how that is true to an extent, but also covers the domestic development and armament industries which exist. While not going into the political side of the relationship, it also examines the rifts which occurred between the two countries in the late 20th Century, and the military consequences which resulted from that.
I found the book to be an extremely comprehensive read, although I did skip over a few parts which did not particularly interest me. I realise that it was written primarily as a historical look at the PLA, but I would have appreciated more information about China's cyber operations. There are several off-hand mentions of the development of cyber capability, but the author didn't explore this in any depth. I acknowledge that this may have resulted from a lack of available material, and that to some degree it was beyond the scope of the book; but at the same time, it is a future battlefield that the world is going to have to compete on.
This is a well-researched, and well-sourced history of the Chinese military.
