China is modernizing her military very rapidly and as her economy strengthens, the pace of military modernization is going to touch higher trajectories. This modernization would impact and alter the existing strategic environment in the world. In the region the impact will be more profound and will force her neighbors to rework their own military modernization programs, war fighting doctrines and their present position on relations with China and other regional powers and the US. Today, in addition to issues relating to human resource development, the biggest impediment is the availability of technology to develop new modern weapon systems and equipment. Will the drivers and trends of Chinese military modernization continue to be same or will there be changes? How will the modernization impact the PLA behavior, especially in its neighborhood? How will the neighbors react to this stupendous pace of militarization in the East Asia? What will be the role of Japan, Vietnam, India, Russia and US? How will china's restive periphery and PLA respond to the spread of Islamic fundamentalism?
To correctly appreciate these changes, an in-depth understanding of Chinese military modernization is essential. This book is an effort in this direction and attempts to find some answers to the questions posed. The trends of modernization of the four services of the PLA have been analyzed and a capability suggested that the PLA is likely to have by 2025.
Author Biography
Colonel Nagender SP Bisht, a serving second generation Infantry officer was commissioned into the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in 1990. He has served on the LC with Pakistan, LAC with China and participated in Op VIJAY in Kargil. He has a vast experience of counterinsurgency operations in South Kashmir as he commanded a Rashtriya Rifles company and Battalion in this area. In the course of his service he has tenanted all important command and staff appointments from a Brigade to Army HQ. This project on PLA Modernization was completed by him while he was at the USI of India as a Senior Research Fellow.
