201. Modernizing China's Military: A High-Stakes Gamble?
- Author:
- Howard M. Krawitz
- Publication Date:
- 12-2003
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Abstract:
- China's accelerated push to modernize the People's Liberation Army (PLA) raises two important questions: What impact will such change have upon the PLA image, status, and role in Chinese society? And how will Chinese military modernization affect the strategic interests and security concerns of the United States and China's neighbors in the region? Making the PLA into a more professional, technologically proficient force would certainly strengthen its capability to perform national defense, regional security, and other externally oriented missions more effectively. But modernization could also significantly change internal PLA demographics, resulting in a drastic alteration of the social contract that has traditionally existed between China's military and civilian society.
- Topic:
- Security, Development, and Government
- Political Geography:
- United States and China