The Dragon Extends its Reach

"A book well worth reading and retaining."—Paul Godwin, China Quarterly
“This book is both important and timely. As we collectively endeavor to understand China’s trajectory, Dr. Wortzel provides us with unique insights into the capabilities of the PLA, as well as the role they are likely to play in decision making going forward. He sheds a great deal of light on an otherwise opaque military. This is a significant contribution to the policy making community and a “must read” for current and aspiring China Hands.”—RICHARD L. ARMITAGE, former deputy secretary of state, and president, Armitage International
“This comprehensive and thorough study by a seasoned PLA watcher shows how China’s emerging capabilities in space, cyberwarfare, strategic missiles, and other advanced technologies are laying the foundation for its rise as a global military power. As China’s worldwide economic interests grow in breadth and depth, this careful and realistic assessment of China’s parallel military capabilities deserves close attention among all who are contemplating how the United States should configure its national security goals ahead.”—ALICE L. MILLER, research fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
“The title says it all: The Dragon Extends Its Reach is a masterwork of research and review about the recent past and a superb delivery of prognostication regarding what is arguably the single most important geo-political nation-state on the face of the earth, especially in the context of its potential impact on global security and specifically on the security of the United States. All government leaders, generals and admirals, intelligence professionals, captains of industry, and every citizen who cares about our relationship with the People’s Republic of China should read every sentence of this book.”—LT. GEN PATRICK M. HUGHES, USA (Ret.), and president, PMH Enterprises LLC
“Larry Wortzel has written an indispensable guide to the People’s Liberation Army. It is especially strong using Chinese sources, from ancient military strategists to the current chief scientist for cyber security at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. While he sometimes gives the PLA the benefit of capabilities about which I have doubts, his judgments on the gap between the PLA’s reach and its grasp are balanced. A strength of the book is its treatment of the many important components of the PLA beyond ground, air, and naval forces—space, information, and electronic warfare; the general political department; and rocket forces. Those newly interested in the PLA can do no better than to start with this book, and we longtime PLA-engagers can also test our knowledge and learn by reading it.”—DENNIS BLAIR, former director of national intelligence and commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Command
"In order to understand the PLA's influence on China's aggressive foreign policies, and how they plan to use cyber warfare to achieve their objectives, this is must read book."—ADMIRAL ACE LYONS (USN Ret.), former commander, US Pacific Fleet