"This volume is a vitally important contribution to understanding the impact of cultural factors on Chinese strategic thought and, as such, a necessary antidote to the unfortunate tendency to analyze other militaries through Euro-American conceptions of war and power. It is essential reading for those seeking to comprehend how China's political and military leaders think about, and perhaps even plan ... Read morefor, the use of force in twenty-first-century conflicts. With meticulous research and documentation, the authors trace the development of Chinese strategic culture from the ancient world to the present and assess its implications for Beijing's approach to military modernization and war." - Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, Jr., Tufts University and Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis "Written from within the Asian strategic perspective, General Kim's book provides the first examination of 'Shi' or 'strategic power,' a concept that proved vital in historical battles and remains crucial to the PRC's quest to formulate contemporary military science with unique Chinese characteristics." - Ralph D. Sawyer, author of Seven Military Classics of Ancient China Show Less