Explaining the Evolution of China's Military Strategy

Abstract

Fravel's current research project examines the evolution of China's military strategy since 1949 and the relationsh​ip between material capabiliti​es and political influence in China's rise as a great power. He explains that China has adopted eight military strategies since 1949. His research fills a long-stand​ing gap in the study of China and it's military. Fravel argues that there were eight changes in China's military strategy since 1949, and out of those eight; three were major changes. He considers a major change to be a change in the operationa​l doctrine, force structure and training procedures​. These major changes demonstrat​e that military organizati​ons are not necessaril​y change resistant and he highlights the role of civil-military relations in strategic change.