The PLA and Kosovo: A strategy debate

Issues and Studies

Volumn 36, Issue 1, 2000, Pages 100-119

  Dreyer, June Teufel ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

"China threat"; Kosovo; Military modernization; PLA

Indexed keywords

EID: 0039923086     PISSN: 10132511     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (65)

1. Report of the Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1999).
2. "Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY 1999 Appropriations Bill," February 26, 1999, available at: 〈www/defenselink.mil/pubs/twstrait_02261999.html〉.
3. A variety of motives were operative. Some people were reluctant to commit troops where they could see no compelling national interest; others felt that the scope of violence did not justify intervention. Many citizens of Greece were sympathetic to the Serbs because of their common adherence to Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
4. There were many evaluations quite contrary to the official hype over victory, however. For one of the most articulate, see Earl H. Tilford, Jr., "Operation Allied Force and the Continuing Relevance of Air Power," Parameters 29, no. 4 (Winter 1999-2000): 24-38. The author is a retired air force major.
5. Su Size, "Kosovo War and New Military Theory," Jiefangjun bao (Liberation Army Daily) (Beijing), June 1, 1999, 6, in United States National Technical Information Service, Foreign Broadcast Information Service (hereafter cited as FBIS), July 2, 1999, via Internet.
6. Su Size, "Kosovo War and New Military Theory," Jiefangjun bao (Liberation Army Daily) (Beijing), June 1, 1999, 6, in United States National Technical Information Service, Foreign Broadcast Information Service (hereafter cited as FBIS), July 2, 1999, via Internet
7. Xiong is best known in the West for his suggestion that, if the United States should back Taiwan in a confrontation with the mainland, the PRC would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against American cities such as Los Angeles.
8. Daniel Kwan, "Hawks' Gathering Urges Steps to Guard Against 'Unholy Alliances'," South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), April 15, 1999, via Internet.
9. See, e.g., House Armed Services Committee, Defense for a New Era: Lessons of the Persian Gulf War (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1992); Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor, The Generals' War (Boston, Mass.: Little Brown, 1995); Philip J. Hilts, "Dispute in Gulf War Debate Continues to Fester at M.I.T.," New York Times, February 24 1996, A7.
10. See, e.g., House Armed Services Committee, Defense for a New Era: Lessons of the Persian Gulf War (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1992); Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor, The Generals' War (Boston, Mass.: Little Brown, 1995); Philip J. Hilts, "Dispute in Gulf War Debate Continues to Fester at M.I.T.," New York Times, February 24 1996, A7.
11. See, e.g., House Armed Services Committee, Defense for a New Era: Lessons of the Persian Gulf War (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1992); Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor, The Generals' War (Boston, Mass.: Little Brown, 1995); Philip J. Hilts, "Dispute in Gulf War Debate Continues to Fester at M.I.T.," New York Times, February 24 1996, A7.
12. These are somewhat similar to the categories found by Michael Pillsbury in his study of PLA views of the revolution in military affairs (RMA): (1) the RMA school; (2) the "local war" school; and (3) the People's War school. Michael Pillsbury, "Taiwan's Security and the Revolution in Military Affairs" (Paper presented at the International Forum on Peace and Security in the Taiwan Strait, Taipei, Taiwan, July 26-28, 1999), 3.
13. Cui Changqi, "Reflections on NATO Air Strikes on Yugoslav Federation," Jiefangjun bao, April 8, 1999, 5, trans. in FBIS, April 16, 1999, via Internet.
14. Cui Changqi, "Reflections on NATO Air Strikes on Yugoslav Federation," Jiefangjun bao, April 8, 1999, 5, trans. in FBIS, April 16, 1999, via Internet
15. Guo Anhua, "Evaluation and Thoughts on Kosovo War Situation," Jiefangjun bao, May 4, 1999, 6, in FBIS, May 21, 1999, via Internet.
16. Guo Anhua, "Evaluation and Thoughts on Kosovo War Situation," Jiefangjun bao, May 4, 1999, 6, in FBIS, May 21, 1999, via Internet.
17. Huang Guanghan, "Countermeasures Against Long-Range Air Attacks," Jiefangjun bao, June 22, 1999, 6, in FBIS, July 12, 1999, via Internet.
18. Huang Guanghan, "Countermeasures Against Long-Range Air Attacks," Jiefangjun bao, June 22, 1999, 6, in FBIS, July 12, 1999, via Internet.
19. Song Xinzhi, "Transform Air Defense Concepts," Jiefangjun bao, April 27, 1999, 6, in FBIS, May 10, 1999, via Internet.
20. Song Xinzhi, "Transform Air Defense Concepts," Jiefangjun bao, April 27, 1999, 6, in FBIS, May 10, 1999, via Internet.
21. Zhou Yinnan and Gang Boyu, "Nanjing PLA Mobilization Committee Meets," Zhejiang ribao (Zhejiang Daily) (Hangzhou), May 7, 1999, 1, in FBIS, May 19, 1999, via Internet.
22. Zhou Yinnan and Gang Boyu, "Nanjing PLA Mobilization Committee Meets," Zhejiang ribao (Zhejiang Daily) (Hangzhou), May 7, 1999, 1, in FBIS, May 19, 1999, via Internet.
23. (No author), "PLA Reports Progress in Building Defensive Shelters," Xinhua (Beijing), November 22, 1999.
24. Stan Sesser, "New Reds Emerge from Bars and Old Bomb Shelters," Asian Wall Street Journal (Weekly edition), November 29-December 5, 1999, 7.
25. The efficacy of People's War in the contemporary context has been quietly questioned since at least as early as 1978 when articles on the value of positional warfare, as opposed to the mobile warfare that is a key characteristic of People's War, began to appear in Chinese military writings. However, as a precious heirloom from Chairman Mao, People's War could not be publicly repudiated per se. It was deemed acceptable to advocate "People's War Under Modern Conditions," which is a vastly different strategy.
26. Willy Wo-Lap Lam, "One Country, Two Policies," South China Morning Post, April 21, 1999, via Internet.
27. (No author), "Veteran Generals Demand World-Best Weapons," Hong Kong Standard, May 17, 1999, via Internet. See also Willy Wo-Lap Lam, "Army Hawks Mimic Anti-NATO Sentiment," South China Morning Post, May 19, 1999, via Internet.
28. (No author), "Veteran Generals Demand World-Best Weapons," Hong Kong Standard, May 17, 1999, via Internet. See also Willy Wo-Lap Lam, "Army Hawks Mimic Anti-NATO Sentiment," South China Morning Post, May 19, 1999, via Internet.
29. Duan Zhiming, Mei Lijin, Liu Jianmin, and Xang Zihui, "Warning from the Flames of War in Kosovo - Summary of Forum Held by a Certain Group Army of the Guangzhou Military Region," Jiefangjun bao, April 20, 1999, 5, in FBIS, May 3, 1999, via Internet.
30. Duan Zhiming, Mei Lijin, Liu Jianmin, and Xang Zihui, "Warning from the Flames of War in Kosovo - Summary of Forum Held by a Certain Group Army of the Guangzhou Military Region," Jiefangjun bao, April 20, 1999, 5, in FBIS, May 3, 1999, via Internet.
31. Ma Ling, "It Is Imperative to Have Powerful Military Strength," Ta Kung Pao (Hong Kong), May 11, 1999, A2, in FBIS, May 12, 1999, via Internet.
32. Ma Ling, "It Is Imperative to Have Powerful Military Strength," Ta Kung Pao (Hong Kong), May 11, 1999, A2, in FBIS, May 12, 1999, via Internet.
33. Wang Hua, "Future Maritime Network Center Warfare," Xiandai junshi (Conmilit) (Hong Kong), no. 266 (March 11, 1999): 41-42, in FBIS, May 13, 1999, via Internet.
34. Wang Hua, "Future Maritime Network Center Warfare," Xiandai junshi (Conmilit) (Hong Kong), no. 266 (March 11, 1999): 41-42, in FBIS, May 13, 1999, via Internet.
35. (No author) "China Builds Aircraft Carriers to Defend Sovereignty," Pingguo ribao (Apple Daily) (Hong Kong), May 16, 1999, A16, in FBIS, May 18, 1999.
36. (No author) "China Builds Aircraft Carriers to Defend Sovereignty," Pingguo ribao (Apple Daily) (Hong Kong), May 16, 1999, A16, in FBIS, May 18, 1999.
37. Oliver Chou, "Notes on China," South China Morning Post, June 14, 1999, via Internet.
38. Quoted in Oliver Chou, "First Spaceship One of Ten Main Projects," South China Morning Post, May 19, 1999, via Internet.
39. Willy Wo-Lap Lam, "Jiang Stresses Need for Hi-Tech Growth," South China Morning Post, June 4, 1999, via Internet.
40. (No author), "PLA Must Prepare to Fight a World War," Sing-tao jih-pao (Star Island Daily) (Hong Kong), May 28, 1999, B14, in FBIS, June 2, 1999. A similar point is made by Chang Chien, "Beware of Arms Race When Building a High-Technology Army," Ching Pao (Hong Kong), September 1, 1999, 50-51, in FBIS, September 8, 1999, via Internet.
41. (No author), "PLA Must Prepare to Fight a World War," Sing-tao jih-pao (Star Island Daily) (Hong Kong), May 28, 1999, B14, in FBIS, June 2, 1999. A similar point is made by Chang Chien, "Beware of Arms Race When Building a High-Technology Army," Ching Pao (Hong Kong), September 1, 1999, 50-51, in FBIS, September 8, 1999, via Internet.
42. (No author), "PLA Must Prepare to Fight a World War," Sing-tao jih-pao (Star Island Daily) (Hong Kong), May 28, 1999, B14, in FBIS, June 2, 1999. A similar point is made by Chang Chien, "Beware of Arms Race When Building a High-Technology Army," Ching Pao (Hong Kong), September 1, 1999, 50-51, in FBIS, September 8, 1999, via Internet.
43. (No author), "PLA Must Prepare to Fight a World War," Sing-tao jih-pao (Star Island Daily) (Hong Kong), May 28, 1999, B14, in FBIS, June 2, 1999. A similar point is made by Chang Chien, "Beware of Arms Race When Building a High-Technology Army," Ching Pao (Hong Kong), September 1, 1999, 50-51, in FBIS, September 8, 1999, via Internet.
44. Tang Liuhui, "Work Hard to Explore Optimal Solution to Man-Weapon Integration," Jiefangjun bao, June 15, 1999, 6, in FBIS, July 12, 1999, via Internet.
45. Tang Liuhui, "Work Hard to Explore Optimal Solution to Man-Weapon Integration," Jiefangjun bao, June 15, 1999, 6, in FBIS, July 12, 1999, via Internet.
46. Zhang Yajun, "Intellectual Military Calls for 'Scholar-Generals'," Jiefangjun bao, February 2, 1999, 6, in FBIS, February 24, 1999, via Internet.
47. Zhang Yajun, "Intellectual Military Calls for 'Scholar-Generals'," Jiefangjun bao, February 2, 1999, 6, in FBIS, February 24, 1999, via Internet.
48. Liu Senshan, "Various Aspects of Military Training in the Context of Science and Technology," Jiefangjun bao, March 16, 1999, 6, in FBIS, March 31, 1999, via Internet.
49. Liu Senshan, "Various Aspects of Military Training in the Context of Science and Technology," Jiefangjun bao, March 16, 1999, 6, in FBIS, March 31, 1999, via Internet.
50. An Weiping, "Thoughts on Developing Armaments by Leaps and Bounds," Jiefangjun bao, April 6, 1999, 6, in FBIS, April 23, 1999, via Internet.
51. An Weiping, "Thoughts on Developing Armaments by Leaps and Bounds," Jiefangjun bao, April 6, 1999, 6, in FBIS, April 23, 1999, via Internet.
52. Qiao Liang and Wang Xianghui, Chaoxian zhan (War beyond boundaries) (Beijing: PLA Literature and Arts Press, 1999).
53. Yu Ching-sheng, "Jiang Zemin Repeatedly Expounds China's Domestic and Foreign Policies in Three Internal Speeches Giving a Quick Response and Winning the Support of the Public," Ching Pao, July 1, 1999, 24-26, in FBIS, July 9, 1999, via Internet.
54. Yu Ching-sheng, "Jiang Zemin Repeatedly Expounds China's Domestic and Foreign Policies in Three Internal Speeches Giving a Quick Response and Winning the Support of the Public," Ching Pao, July 1, 1999, 24-26, in FBIS, July 9, 1999, via Internet.
55. Agence France Presse, "Forget Bombing, Court Investment." South China Morning Post May 19, 1999, via Internet.
56. Pan Shunrui, "War Is Not Far from Us," Jiefangjun bao, June 8, 1999, 6, in FBIS, July 6, 1999, via Internet.
57. Pan Shunrui, "War Is Not Far from Us," Jiefangjun bao, June 8, 1999, 6, in FBIS, July 6, 1999, via Internet
58. (No author), "PLA Generals Said to Be Spoiling for War," Ming Pao (Bright Daily) (Hong Kong), July 17, 1999, 12.
59. As summarized by Xinhua, December 1, 1999, via Internet.
60. Underground storage of planes and moving the population into tunnels could have some value should there be retaliation against a mainland attack on Taiwan's territory. But this assumes that retaliation would occur only in the area nearest Taiwan. Such restraint on the part of one's enemy cannot be guaranteed.
61. Monique Chu, "Disaster Response Center Likely to Get Its Own Headquarters," Taipei Times, November 30, 1999, via Internet.
62. Brian Hsu, "Generals Warn of 'Asymmetric Warfare'," Taipei Times, December 4, 1999, via Internet. An upgraded command, control, and communications system is scheduled to be deployed in February 2000. According to senior ROC military officials, it will strengthen the country's ability to intercept and jam enemy electronic systems. See Brian Hsu, "Army Upgrades C3 Systems," Taipei Times, November 30, 1999, via Internet.
63. Brian Hsu, "Generals Warn of 'Asymmetric Warfare'," Taipei Times, December 4, 1999, via Internet. An upgraded command, control, and communications system is scheduled to be deployed in February 2000. According to senior ROC military officials, it will strengthen the country's ability to intercept and jam enemy electronic systems. See Brian Hsu, "Army Upgrades C3 Systems," Taipei Times, November 30, 1999, via Internet.
64. Barbara Opall-Rome, "PLA Pursues Acupuncture Warfare," Defense News (Washington, D.C.), March 1, 1999. Ms. Opall-Rome quotes extensively from Lin Chong-Pin, "Dianxue" (Acupuncture Warfare) in Heba (Nuclear hegemon) (Taipei: The Student Publisher, 1999), 1-32.
65. Barbara Opall-Rome, "PLA Pursues Acupuncture Warfare," Defense News (Washington, D.C.), March 1, 1999. Ms. Opall-Rome quotes extensively from Lin Chong-Pin, "Dianxue" (Acupuncture Warfare) in Heba (Nuclear hegemon) (Taipei: The Student Publisher, 1999), 1-32.