Mao's War of Resistance: Framework for China's Grand Strategy
Abstract
What framework best explains China s grand strategy? Some postulate a transition of power theory: that China is a rising power to challenge the status quo power, the United States, and globally competes with or attempts to replace the latter. Others believe that China desires to be a regional hegemon and return Asia to a China-centered sphere. Many also believe that China drives to overcome the social construct of century of humiliation from its past history. This paper presents a view, however, that China s grand strategy can be best understood through Mao s theory of war of resistance. War of resistance, different from the theory of the war of revolution that Mao is most known for, is a defensive strategy he utilized in fighting the Japanese invasion of China. The theory advocates a war strategy that a weaker state can implement in resisting a stronger, imperialist state. This strategy appeals to Chinese elites who are still strongly influenced by Mao s thinking. The strategy aims to resist a hegemonic United States that encroaches on Chinese sovereignty. It uses conventional and unconventional elements of national power in a compound manner with both defensive and offensive approaches, oriented geographically and in a protracted manner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 17, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA553055
Entities
People
- Tony K. Cho
Organizations
- United States Army War College