ABSTRACT
What follows is an attempt to collect, in a single volume, a reasonably comprehensive and systematic analysis of contemporary Chinese thinking about Chinese national security in all its aspects, as represented by outstanding scholarly authorities in their respective fields of specialization. It is organized into three main parts (although the divisions are somewhat arbitrary, with many overlaps): Part I is concerned with national security, which is to say with those aspects of security that impinge on the nation-state as a whole. The first two chapters, on traditional views of security and on the impact of the Chinese revolution, are concerned with the impact of China’s historical experience on current security dispositions. This is followed by chapters on the politicaleconomic dimension of security and on the impact, only recently academically recognized, of “non-traditional” security. Part II is focused on the security dimension as broken down into discrete geographic areas. This section is in turn subdivided into a first subsection focused on the great powers, a second dealing with regional security (including two chronic trouble spots with tie-ins to great power dynamics), and a third dealing with China’s experience with collective security organizations. Part III encompasses China’s institutionalized security forces; i.e., with the People’s Liberation Army, as subdivided into army, navy, air force, and second artillery (strategic nuclear forces). This is followed by chapters on China’s more recent interest in space as a security concern and in cybersecurity.
