Military modernisation is an indispensable element of Xi Jinping’s vision of the “Chinese Dream.” The ambition to elevate the role of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in China’s future is driven by Beijing’s quest to secure its strategic space both regionally and globally. To achieve this goal, China’s quest lies in transforming the PLA into a “World-Class Military.” Capturing this essence, Joel Wuthnow and Phillip C. Saunders’ book China’s Quest for Military Supremacy offers a comprehensive and timely examination of the Chinese military modernisation.
Building on an exhaustive body of literature and meticulous analysis, the book chronicles the development of Chinese military power in the new era. It is not limited to explaining how the PLA functions in terms of capabilities, structure and operations, but delves deeper into the why—the underlying strategic and political intentions driving China’s military transformation.
The book is divided into eight chapters, which, taken together, offer a comprehensive study of the organisation, the orientation, and the transformation of the PLA in the new era. It details the progression in PLA’s military modernisation, both in scope and scale, that includes advanced fighters, submarines, warships, nuclear, space and cyber forces; and explains how this leap has enhanced China’s deterrence and coercive capabilities. The authors argue that China’s core strategic focus has been deterring the United States, especially in the context of Taiwan. Gazing further, they posit that Sino-US strategic competition may not remain confined to Asia but could involve military clashes between the two forces elsewhere, including attempts to control territory that one side seeks to deny the other access to, as well as the possibility of proxy conflict.
Wuthnow and Sauders’ central thesis remains: while the PLA is stronger and more confident today than at any point in its history, it continues to suffer from intrinsic flaws that neither technological advancement nor increased funding can resolve, thereby creating vulnerabilities should the PLA ever be ordered into combat. Building on this argument, the authors contend that the PLA’s core challenge is not a lack of resources or having modern capabilities but is fundamentally structural. The problem, as they argue, lies in the Chinese Communist Party’s prioritisation of political loyalty over professional military preparedness, compounded with opaque decision-making processes and limited joint operational experience. While cautioning against underestimating the PLA, the authors maintain that the PLA has become a global actor; it has yet to demonstrate the ability to perform and sustain higher-end combat missions far from home. With its balanced and evidence-based approach, the book makes for an informative and compelling read.