Located in the center of Asia with one of the largest land frontiers in the world and 14 neighbors whose dispositions could not easily be predicted, China has long been obsessed with security. In this Handbook, an internationally renowned team of contributors provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of contemporary thinking about Chinese national security. Chapters cover the PRC’s historical, ideological and doctrinal heritage related to security, its security arrangements and policies targeting key regions and nations of the world, the security aspects of the PRC’s ground, air, sea, space and cyber forces, as well as the changing and expanding definition and scope of China’s security theory and practice.

The Handbook is divided into three thematic parts:

Part I focuses on national security, covering traditional views of security and the impact of China’s historical experience on current security dispositions as well as non-traditional security.

Part II looks at China’s relations with the great powers, regional security and China’s involvement with collective security organizations.

Part III provides an overview of China’s institutionalized security forces; looking at the army, navy, air force and Second Artillery (strategic nuclear forces) and offering analysis of China’s recent interest in space as a security concern and cybersecurity.

This volume is essential reading for all students of Asian Security, Chinese Politics and International Relations.

Lowell Dittmer is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, USA.

Maochun Yu is Professor of East Asia and Military History at the United States Naval Academy.