Bernard D. Cole, The Great Wall at Sea, Second Edition: China’s Navy in the Twenty-First Century
Bernard D. Cole, The Great Wall at Sea, Second Edition: China’s Navy in the Twenty-First Century (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2010).
Book Jacket Summary:
In this new edition, Bernard Cole revises his acclaimed study of China’s Navy as it continues to grow in the unfolding twenty-first century while the U.S. Navy is shrinking. The Great Wall at Sea, Second Edition focuses on China’s maritime territorial and economic interests, which include the East and South China Seas and which also hold significant implications for the Indian Ocean and, indeed, for the global maritime picture. Of particular note is Beijing’s increased attention to guarding its vital sea lanes of communication, given China’s increasing dependence on maritime trade, chiefly the importation of energy supplies.
Cole provides a thorough description of China’s naval establishment, including its personnel structure, running the gamut from the conscription system to onboard ship training, and he notes that the political commissar system permeates its navy. He offers a detailed examination and evaluation of China’s naval doctrine, operations, and the nation’s maritime strategy and addresses the Chinese Navy’s attempt to take full advantage of technological advances while being careful not to overspend on defense. Cole’s findings are summarized in a concluding chapter, which notes that despite double-digit defense budget increases, Beijing is focusing its naval modernization goals on realizing specific national interests, such as finally determining the status of Taiwan.
