title 
Security

China’s Naval Power: An Offensive Realist Approach

Marjorie Gerlinger
Author: Yves-Heng Lim
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing

From Baird Maritime

The rapid growth in China's naval capability over the past decade or so has alarmed many of the nation's neighbours, particularly Japan. It has also inspired some poorly thought-out, indeed belligerent, comment from some of America's political and military leaders.

Through an "offensive realist perspective" prism, the author explores and explains what he believes China is really up to. However, in reading this assessment, it should always be remembered that the author is an American and French educated Taiwanese.

His great advantage as a scholar, though, is that he is also Chinese and he knows where to look for the readily available information produced by the PRC. Despite, and understandably, being very sensitive to the threat of a mainland invasion of Taiwan, the author has researched extensively and realistically to reach his logical and sensible conclusions.

As he says, " war between the United States and China is not fore-ordained", although it remains a potential event. Further: "A Chinese turn to the oceans would most likely be primarily driven by economic security concerns". And, finally, "the primary task of the PLA Navy will continue to be defined at the regional level, …"

Ordering information:

Ashgate Publishing,
Farnham, UK.

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