This week’s episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines the historical arc of Chinese Military Strategy from 1949 until today.
Our guests begin by explaining how the Chinese military’s revolutionary roots have influenced its strategy over the last century. They then address how technological innovations, changes in the international system, and important events within the Chinese Communist Party have all shaped PLA doctrine. Finally, our guests conclude with a discussion about China’s current military strategy, with a special emphasis on the South China Sea and Taiwan.
LTG Charles W. Hooper served in the U.S. Army for over four decades. Throughout much of his career, LTG Hooper focused on U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific where he completed two attaché assignments in Beijing. LTG Hooper is a graduate of West Point, and holds advanced degrees from Harvard University and the UK Ministry of Defense Chinese Language School, Hong Kong.
Professor M. Taylor Fravel is the Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a world renowned China scholar who has written prolifically on Chinese military strategy and the People’s Liberation Army. In 2019, Professor Fravel published the book Active Defense: China’s Military Strategy Since 1949, which serves as the anchor for today’s conversation.
Ben Jebb and Alisa Laufer are the hosts for this episode. Please reach out to Ben and Alisa with any questions about this episode or the Irregular Warfare Podcast.
The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a production of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI). We are a team of volunteers dedicated to bridging the gap between scholars and practitioners in the field of irregular warfare. IWI generates written and audio content, coordinates events for the IW community, and hosts critical thinkers in the field of irregular warfare as IWI fellows. You can follow and engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.
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