China has evolved from a nation with local and regional security interests to a major economic and political power with global interests, investments, and political commitments. It now requires a military that can project itself around the globe, albeit on a limited scale, to secure its interests. Therefore, as Larry M. Wortzel explains, the Chinese Communist Party leadership has charged the People s Liberation Army (PLA) with new and challenging missions that require global capabilities.
Advances in technology and the development of indigenous weapons platforms in China, combined with...