The Chinese People's Liberation Army in 2025

Carlisle: U.S. Army War College Press, Strategic Studies Institute, 2015. — viii; 379 p. — ISBN 1584876883This volume is of special relevance today in light of the profound changes occurring within the PLA. I have spent a considerable amount of my professional career in the Western Pacific and, during that time, I’ve seen first-hand the rapid expansion of the size and capability of the PLA as it pursues a long-term, comprehensive military modernization program in support of China’s more assertive regional strategy. China’s desire to develop a military commensurate with its diverse interests and economic power is both legitimate and understandable. However, China’s coercive approach to security is problematic and of increasing concern to the region. The challenge for USPACOM, and the reason why this volume is timely and important, is to understand how China will employ this growing military capability in support of its interests.