China's Quest for Military Supremacy

China's military has entered a new era. It has acquired modern weapons to rival the world’s finest, undergone a massive restructuring under Xi Jinping, and been on the frontlines of territorial disputes with Japan, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It is readying forces to be able to seize Taiwan sometime in the next decade. It aims to be a "world-class" military on par with the United States.

China's Quest for Military Supremacy provides a broad and accessible exploration of Chinese military power, including relations between the Chinese Communist Party and its army, the strategic worldview of Chinese leaders, military strategy and resourcing, conventional and nuclear modernization, military diplomacy and coercion, preparations for war, and the People's Liberation Army’s emerging global role. It also identifies the challenges facing China’s military and shows how its focus on supremacy in the region means that it is not yet prepared to fight with the same lethality beyond Asia. Different futures are possible, and the book concludes with a preview of what it might take for a truly "world-class" Chinese military to take the global stage.

“As Sun Tzu once said, one must know one’s adversary as well as oneself to succeed. Today we all need a better understanding of the pacing challenge posed by the Chinese military. China’s Quest for Military Supremacy is current, comprehensive, and presents critical information in an easy-to-read style from two dedicated experts. This is a must-read for all military professionals and anyone who needs to learn about the People’s Liberation Army.”
General James N. Mattis, USMC (ret.), 26^th U.S. Secretary of Defense

“The most comprehensive and detailed book to date on China's military development. A must-read for defense and military officials and a great reference for anyone who cares about peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Admiral (ret.) Lee Hsi-Min, 26^th Chief of the General Staff, Republic of China (Taiwan)

“An excellent primer on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and a must read for those trying to understand the Chinese military.”
Bonny Lin, Center for Strategic & International Studies

“Saunders and Wuthnow deliver an accessible, balanced, and historically grounded overview of the People’s Liberation Army, its breathtaking modernization, and the challenges it faces realizing Beijing’s vision for its role in China’s emergence as a global leader in every domain.”
Daniel Tobin, Senior Associate (non-resident), Freeman Chair in China Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies

“A master class on the Chinese military. Joel Wuthnow and Phillip Saunders deliver a mental accelerant for those seeking to get smart on the world’s most dangerous authoritarian war machine. Erudite and crisply written, this brilliant book shines a broad and searching light on its object, showing the PLA’s remarkable strengths — and potential weak points that could be targeted.”
Ian Easton, author of The Chinese Invasion Threat: Taiwan’s Defense and American Strategy in Asia

“Practically obligatory reading…”
Revista Ejercitos

''important if unsettling''
Kirkus Reviews

Dr Joel Wuthnow is a senior research fellow in the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the U.S. National Defense University.

Dr Phillip C. Saunders is director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs within the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the U.S. National Defense University.

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