A History of the Modern Chinese Army

by Xiaobing Li

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.

Genres: History, China, Military Fiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Xiaobing Li is Professor of History and director of the Western Pacific Institute at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Reviews

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

"A History of the Modern Chinese Army" by Xiaobing Li is one of those books you read for the bits and details that you fit into a broader assessment. Sadly, it is written in "Commie-speak", that boring prose that bombards you with numbers devoid of context but implying great achievement. Read between those lines and some interesting details emerge as to how China assessed its national security needs in the 1950s to the present day and adjusted accordingly, or incorrectly, depending on what was happening.

Seeing the other side of a war can be an ironic eye-opener. In China's view, it "won" the Korean War by protecting North Korea from being overrun by the United States. It also "won" the Chosin Resevoir battle, though the USMC begs to differ. Like the United States, China also sent advisors to Vietnam during the French War, and the Viet Minh could be quite stubborn igoring them. During Vietnam's American War, China dispatched about 150,000 AA troops and railway workers to protect and repair the twin rail lines supplying North Vietnam, thus freeing up NVA troops to go south.

One theme that emerges is China's strategic perception that it cannot be surrounded by smaller states aligned with other powers. Security is making sure all bordering states are aligned with Beijing. So you get the "skirmish wars" with Vietnam, India and Taiwan. Sometimes they can seem absurd in their length, like the PRC's bombardment of Quemoy and Matsu lasting several decades. Border sniping with Vietnam also went on for quite a while following the brief, botched war of 1979. Sparring with the Soviets over piddling islands in the Amur River got a little hot and bloody in 1969-70, almost leading to a major war, then rapprochement with the US to check Russia. Fear of American attack was never discounted, even though the US lacked the capability to invade and hold China.

Perhaps the tightest chapter looked at the role the Chinese People's Liberation Army played during the Cultural Revolution, when it basically expanded and took over all civil government. Displaced bureaucrats then became the targets for young "Red Guards", Mao's useful puppets that rooted out all enemies, real or imaginary (well, mostly imaginary). But that move politically strengthened the Army, empowering Defense Minister (and designated successor) Lin Biao, who suffered death in a suspicious airplane crash while trying to flee the country. (Unsuccessfully trying to seize power can do that to you.)

Still, the tidbits and details provided by Li don't add up to much of a book. It has a useful place on my shelf--for now. Li's little book will no doubt be supplanted by further scholarship in the future. Let's hope it's not outdone by a thicker, duller book full of "commie speak."

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting overview of the development of the PLA, and how this reflects and was influenced by changes in Chinese society.