The New Military Elite: Generational Profile and Contradictory Trends

Abstract

A central issue surrounding the Chinese military has been the tension between its pronounced objectives and the prevailing obstacles it must surmount. For a long time, China’s quest for military modernization was undermined by economic deficiency, ideological stagnation, and political interference. However, the unprecedented growth of the Chinese economy during the past two decades has ensured that military modernization is no longer merely an empty slogan used to “scare others,” but instead constitutes a concrete and comprehensive program. Communist ideology has become irrelevant. The strategic thinking and military doctrines of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been progressively influenced by its counterparts in the West. The PLA’s mission is more focused and its role better defined than ever before. The possibility that China’s military will interfere in domestic politics, especially political succession, has become increasingly unlikely.