Defense Modernization and Civil-Military Relations in China

Four years after the start of the post-Mao era in China, civil-military relations are still in a state of flux. The warmth which characterized these relations in the aftermath of Mao's death and the downfall of his radical supporters—since vilified as the "Gang of Four"— has cooled off considerably. The harmony of the earlier period has given way to a more complex situation which contains elements of both cohesion and conflict. Although the elements of conflict have so far been firmly contained by overriding common interests shared by leaders of the party and the People's Liberation Army (PLA), signs of strain have appeared in their relationship as a result of their inability to resolve several issues. The most divisive issue is the technological modernization of the PLA. The professional military have made major gains in other areas pertaining to military modernization, but the absence of agreement on this cardinal issue constitutes a source of simmering friction.