China's Rising Sea Power: The PLA Navy's Submarine Challenge

by Peter Howarth

Overview

This is a fascinating insight into China’s strategic abilities and ambitions, probing the real depths of its plans for the twenty-first century.

China's Rising Sea Power explores similarities between China’s strategic outlook today and that of earlier continental powers whose submarine fleets challenged dominant maritime powers for regional hegemony: Germany in two World Wars and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Using insights from classical naval strategic theory, Peter Howarth examines Beijing’s strategic logic in making tactical submarines the keystone of China’s naval force structure. He also investigates the influence of Soviet naval strategy and ancient Chinese military thought on the PLA Navy’s strategic culture, contending that China’s increasingly capable submarine fleet could play a key role in Beijing’s use of force to resolve the Taiwan issue.

This book will be of great interest to all students and scholars of security and strategic studies, Asian politics, geopolitics and military (naval) strategy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415368919
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/27/2006
Series:	Asian Security Studies
Edition description:	ANN
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Introduction 1. China’s Tactical Submarine Fleet 2. The Geopolitical Context 3. China’s New Maritime Strategy 4. Sea Control in the Western Pacific 5. Maritime Strategic Theory and the Logic of China’s Submarine Fleet 6. Geography, Narrow Seas and Submarine Terrain 7. Disputing U.S. Command of the China Seas 8. The Universal and the Particular in Strategic Logic 9. Influence of the Soviet Experience on the PRC’s Maritime Strategy 10. Chinese Strategic Culture – Indigenous Elements 11. Chinese Strategic Culture, Submarines and Prospects for War in the Taiwan Strait 12. Conclusion

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. China’s Tactical Submarine Fleet 2. The Geopolitical Context 3. China’s New Maritime Strategy 4. Sea Control in the Western Pacific 5. Maritime Strategic Theory and the Logic of China’s Submarine Fleet 6. Geography, Narrow Seas and Submarine Terrain 7. Disputing U.S. Command of the China Seas 8. The Universal and the Particular in Strategic Logic 9. Influence of the Soviet Experience on the PRC’s Maritime Strategy 10. Chinese Strategic Culture – Indigenous Elements 11. Chinese Strategic Culture, Submarines and Prospects for War in the Taiwan Strait 12. Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

'This strategic analysis work focuses on China's naval force structure, and most ably explores and examines difficult questions such as: What does China intend to do with its growing capability in submarine forces? And, how might the strategic stability in the Asian theatre change in the coming years?' - The Northern Mariner

'A solid piece of work for anyone interested in developing a better understanding of East Asian strategic development' - The Northern Mariner

'Does Beijing see itself as a regional maritime power? Is the PLA Navy positioned to take on the USN in the contested waters surrounding Taiwan? Dr Howarth examines such issues in some depth...[and]I was able to develop some interesting perspectives on this important global maritime common arena. I unconditionally recommend this book to all students and scholars with an interest in security and strategic studies, Asian politics, geo-politics and naval strategy.' - The Northern Mariner

'Does Beijing see itself as a regional maritime power? Is the PLA Navy positioned to take on the USN in the contested waters surrounding Taiwan? Dr Howarth examines such issues in some depth...[and]I was able to develop some interesting perspectives on this important global maritime common arena. I unconditionally recommend this book to all students and scholars with an interest in security and strategic studies, Asian politics, geo-politics and naval strategy.' - The Northern Mariner

From the Publisher