title: PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking
author: Phillip C. Saunders
description: "China's rapid rise to a great power status and the modernization of its armed forces have raised concerns about the PLA's [People's Liberation Army] gaining influence in China's national strategy, or in an even worse scenario, acting independently of the political leadership. The contributors of this book, however, argue that the PLA has remained subordinate to the country's political leadership. This should shatter foreign misperceptions and provide a better understanding of civil-military relations in China. Thus I highly recommend this volume, as it meets high academic standards and is a valuable addition to the existing knowledge on this topic." (Ghulam Ali <i><i>Journal of Chinese Political Science</i></i>)<br /><br />"The role of the Chinese military in decision-making is one of the most puzzling, yet most important, questions facing those who try to assess the threat that a rising China may pose to peace in Asia. In the face of alarmist myths and speculations, this book offers the seasoned insights of our best specialists into the distinctive Chinese model of civil-military relations." (Andrew J. Nathan, Class of 1919 Professor of Political Science <i>Columbia University</i>)<br /><br />"Saunders and Scobell have assembled leading authorities in civil-military relations in China, a subject of great importance for U.S.-Chinese relations and East Asian security....Highly informative." (Robert Ross <i><i>Foreign Affairs</i></i>)<br /><br />"Bringing together the field's leading scholars under a single cover, <i>PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking</i> is a signal contribution to understanding PLA sway over China's national security policies and crisis management behavior. Describing the pathways by which PLA influence is exerted, this volume is the new field standard." (David M. Lampton, Hyman Professor and Director of China Studies <i>Johns HopkinsSAIS</i>)<br /><br />"Few issues concerning China are as important yet vexing as the roles of the military. This unique volume, by the leading specialists in the world, offers in-depth and nuanced analyses of both inputs and outputs of the PLA in shaping China's national security posture. Empirically rich and analytically insightful, this is the best assessment of the Chinese military to appear in many years." (David Shambaugh <i>George Washington University and the Brookings Institution</i>)
zlib_text: National Institute for Defense Studies, Japan
  NIDS China Security Report 2016
  The Expanding Scope of PLA Activities and the PLA Strategy
  N I D S  C H I N A  S E C U R I T Y  R E P O R T
  
  NIDS China Security Report 2016
  The Expanding Scope of PLA Activities and the PLA Strategy
  Published by
  The National Institute for Defense Studies
  2-2-1 Nakameguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8648, Japan
  Phone: +81-3-5721-7005
  E-mail: planning@nids.go.jp
  Website: http://www.nids.go.jp
  Translated by The Japan Times, Ltd.
  Copyright © 2016 by the National Institute for Defense Studies, Japan
  All rights reserved.
  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written, prior permission from  
  the publisher.
  This publication is a translation of the Japanese version originally published in March 2016.
  ISBN978-4-86482-040-0 
  Printed in Japan
  
  NIDS China Security Report 2016 
  Contents
  Preface············································································································