PositiveBook PostFravel shows that China’s civilian and military leaders have almost invariably followed relatively open processes as they debate and formulate strategy ... Their strategy of active defense has instead been based on \'the principle of \"gaining control by striking afterwards\" (houfa zhiren).\' A useful chapter in Active Defense relates this doctrine ... Fravel makes a strong case that the political stability of the CCP has been a more important stimulus to changes in the strategic guidelines and regulations of the PLA than either foreign military thinking or the evolution of China’s strategic environment ... Active Defense is a classic that is likely to have great long-term influence and be widely admired by academics in the field, but it is not written for a general audience.
