Recent Publications

Avoiding the Trap: U.S. Strategy and Policy for Competing in the Asia-Pacific Beyond the Rebalance
February 6, 2018 — Editor: COL (R) Frederick J. Gellert, Dr David Lai, Prof John F TroxellView the Executive SummaryThe Trump administration has recently called for a free and open Indo-Pacific, essentially replacing the Obama-era “Rebalance.” This U.S. Army War College report provides prescient analysis and policy recommendations on how to proceed down the path to... MORE

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U.S.-China Competition: Asia-Pacific Land Force Implications
November 1, 2016 — A U.S. Army War College Integrated Research Project in Support of U.S. Army Pacific Command and Headquarters, Department of the Army, Directorate of Strategy and Policy (HQDA G-35)Author: Prof William G Braun III, Dr David LaiView the Executive SummaryThe context of the Asia-Pacific rivalry between the United States and China has evolved over the... MORE

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The Chinese People’s Liberation Army in 2025
July 28, 2015 — Editors: Mr Roy Kamphausen, Dr David LaiView the Executive SummaryThis volume is of special relevance in light of the profound changes occurring within the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). China’s desire to develop a military commensurate with its diverse interests is both legitimate and understandable. The challenge for U.S. Pacific Command... MORE

Assessing the People’s Liberation Army in the Hu Jintao Era
April 22, 2014 — Authors: Mr Roy Kamphausen, Dr David Lai, Mr Travis Tanner View the Executive SummaryThe 2012 PLA (People’s Liberation Army) conference took place at a time when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was making its leadership transition from Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping. The conference discussion focused on the developments in China’s national security and... MORE

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Asia-Pacific: A Strategic Assessment
May 28, 2013 — Author: Dr David Lai View the Executive SummaryDr. David Lai provides a timely assessment of the geostrategic significance of Asia-Pacific. His monograph is also a thought-provoking analysis of the U.S. strategic shift toward the region and its implications. Dr. Lai judiciously offers the following key points. First, Asia-Pacific, which covers... MORE

Learning by Doing: The PLA Trains at Home and Abroad
November 1, 2012 — Authors: Mr Roy Kamphausen, Dr David Lai, Mr Travis Tanner To better understand the PLA’s ability to employ its developing capabilities in a variety of potential scenarios, this year’s workshop examined how the PLA learns by doing, specifically through its exercises and noncombat operations at home and overseas, and through key logistical and... MORE

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The United States and China in Power Transition
December 1, 2011 — Author: Dr David Lai The most profound change that the United States and China have experienced in their relations over the past 30 years is perhaps the onset of an apparent power transition between the two nations. This potentially titanic change was set in motion as a result of China’s genuine and phenomenal economic development, and the impact... MORE

Chinese Lessons from Other Peoples’ Wars
November 1, 2011 — Authors: Mr Roy Kamphausen, Dr David Lai, Dr Andrew Scobell The importance of China stems not only from its current international role and its influence on the Asia-Pacific region in particular, but also because China’s impact on global developments will likely continue to grow. One of our enduring imperatives is to accurately survey China’s... MORE

The Coming of Chinese Hawks
October 1, 2010 — Author: Dr David Lai Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the October 2010 newsletter.Read Now MORE

The PLA at Home and Abroad: Assessing the Operational Capabilities of China’s Military
June 1, 2010 — Authors: Mr Roy Kamphausen, Dr David Lai, Dr Andrew Scobell The chapters presented in this volume have demonstrated first, Chinese and PLA leaders have a strong sense of mission and concern for China’s security and well-being. Second, the PLA is committed to the transformation in military affairs with Chinese characteristics. Third, the PLA is... MORE

Arms Sales to Taiwan: Enjoy the Business While It Lasts
May 1, 2010 — Author: Dr David Lai From our "Of Interest" occasional paper series, the author examines recent threats from China over arms sales to Taiwan.Read Now MORE

China’s Maritime Quest
June 1, 2009 — Author: Dr David Lai Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the June 2009 newsletter.Read Now MORE