Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking

摘要

This edited volume examines the role of People's Liberation Army (PLA) in different areas of China's decision making process, focusing primarily on the period of reforms and opening up in which Chinese leadership introduced bifurcation in the civil-military relationship. Later, the advent of the third generation leadership of Jiang Zemen (and his successors Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping) with no direct military experience, and the removal of PLA representatives from the Politburo Standing Committee in 1997 strengthened the bifurcation process. As a result, the political leadership took control over decision making while the PLA focused on military professionalism. Over time, this structure has been institutionalized to an extent that it seems that normal events could not disrupt it.