China's National Defense in 2008: Panel Discussion Report
Abstract
This is the sixth edition of the defense white paper in 11 years; as Dr. Finkelstein noted, it seems safe to say that the biennial publication of the White Paper has become a "firm habit of the PRC government." Moreover, panelists agreed that both in its confident tone and in its extensive retrospective on PLA reform, this edition depicts a "China that has come of age." The year 2008 marked the 30th anniversary both of China's economic "reform and opening" and of the PLA's modernization efforts, and this edition showcases that point in a new chapter on the "Reform and Development of the PLA." The 2008 White Paper lists the many ways in which the PLA has transformed itself since the 1970s, and goes on to depict the current "new stage of the new century" as a "new historical starting point" for yet greater achievements in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADB349654
Entities
People
- Alison A. Kaufman
Organizations
- Center for Naval Analyses