Description
The untold story of China's rise as a global superpower, chronicled through the diplomatic shock troops that connect Beijing to the world. China's Civilian Army charts China's transformation from an isolated and impoverished communist state to a global superpower from the perspective of those on the front line: China's diplomats. They give a rare perspective on the greatest geopolitical drama of the last half century. In the early days of the People's Republic, diplomats were highly-disciplined, committed communists who feared revealing any weakness to the threatening capitalist world. Remarkably, the model that revolutionary leader Zhou Enlai established continues to this day despite the massive changes the country has undergone in recent decades. Little is known or understood about the inner workings of the Chinese government as the country bursts onto the world stage, as the world's second largest economy and an emerging military superpower. China's Diplomats embody its battle between insecurity and self-confidence, internally and externally. To this day, Chinese diplomats work in pairs so that one can always watch the other for signs of ideological impurity. They're often dubbed China's "wolf warriors" for their combative approach to asserting Chinese interests. Drawing for the first time on the memoirs of more than a hundred retired diplomats as well as author Peter Martin's first-hand reporting as a journalist in Beijing, this groundbreaking book blends history with current events to tease out enduring lessons about the kind of power China is set to become. It is required reading for anyone who wants to understand China's quest for global power, as seen from the inside.
About the Author
Peter Martin is a political reporter for Bloomberg News. He has written extensively on escalating tensions in the US-China relationship and reported from China's border with North Korea and its far-western region of Xinjiang. He previously worked for the consultancy APCO Worldwide in Beijing, New Delhi, and Washington, where he analyzed politics for multinational companies. In Washington, he served as chief of staff to the company's global CEO. His writing has been published by outlets including Foreign Affairs, the National Interest, the Guardian, the Jamestown China Brief, the Diplomat and the Christian Science Monitor. He holds degrees from the University of Oxford, Peking University and the London School of Economics.
Reviews
The author makes extensive use of Chinese language documents; particularly interesting are the memoirs of retired Chinese diplomats used by him. They provide an insight into the inside of Chinese diplomacy. * Huibert de Man, China 2025 *
China's Civilian Army is based on Martin's experiences as a reporter in China, as well as dozens of interviews with current and former diplomats in Beijing, Washington and London. Furthermore, it draws on the memoirs of more than 100 retired Chinese diplomats. This is indeed a remarkable achievement. * FALK HARTIG, Europe-Asia Studies *
Martin's effort to complement his narrative history with biographical and autobiographical source material about ordinary diplomats is highly commendable. * Steven Langendonk, International Affairs *
... readable and entertaining book... * Jeremy Rees, NZ Listener *
Fascinating and engrossing, China's Civilian Army sheds new light on the inner workings of Chinese foreign policy. Absolutely required reading for anyone who needs to deal with China or seeks to understand its rise. * Kurt Campbell, White House Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific and author of The Pivot: The Future of American Statecraft in Asia *
There's never been a more important time to understand the motivations that drive Chinese diplomacy. Peter Martin's superb book delves into the history of China's diplomatic corps in way that sheds new light on the nature of Chinese power today. It should become required reading for anyone who hopes to understand Chinese foreign policy. * Stephen J. Hadley, Former US National Security Advisor *
Peter Martin has decoded Chinese diplomacy in this fascinating and carefully researched study. He describes how China's foreign service evolved with the country from humble revolutionary beginnings-and became a voice for a new, rising China whose self-confidence sometimes borders on arrogance. Martin's book explains how China learned to talk like a global superpower. * David Ignatius, Associate Editor and Columnist, The Washington Post *
Martin's book is an absolute marvel-a penetrating portrait of China's political psychology, based on rich, insider accounts that hardly any foreigners have accessed. Entertaining, learned, and immediately useful, this is nothing short of a how-to manual for understanding China's strategy in the world. * Evan Osnos, staff writer, The New Yorker, and winner of the National Book Award *
The United States simply cannot outcompete China without outcompeting its diplomats and economic influence in Asia and around the world. Martin's book skillfully captures the steely determination of China to secure its interests abroad, demonstrating the challenges facing the US and its partners and underscoring the criticality of working together to develop more coordinated approaches to China across the board. * Michele Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Co-Founder of WestExec Advisors *
Book Information
ISBN 9780197513705
Author Peter Martin
Format Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 598g
Dimensions(mm) 243mm * 162mm * 28mm
About the Author
Peter Martin is a political reporter for Bloomberg News. He has written extensively on escalating tensions in the US-China relationship and reported from China's border with North Korea and its far-western region of Xinjiang. He previously worked for the consultancy APCO Worldwide in Beijing, New Delhi, and Washington, where he analyzed politics for multinational companies. In Washington, he served as chief of staff to the company's global CEO. His writing has been published by outlets including Foreign Affairs, the National Interest, the Guardian, the Jamestown China Brief, the Diplomat and the Christian Science Monitor. He holds degrees from the University of Oxford, Peking University and the London School of Economics.
Reviews
The author makes extensive use of Chinese language documents; particularly interesting are the memoirs of retired Chinese diplomats used by him. They provide an insight into the inside of Chinese diplomacy. * Huibert de Man, China 2025 *
China's Civilian Army is based on Martin's experiences as a reporter in China, as well as dozens of interviews with current and former diplomats in Beijing, Washington and London. Furthermore, it draws on the memoirs of more than 100 retired Chinese diplomats. This is indeed a remarkable achievement. * FALK HARTIG, Europe-Asia Studies *
Martin's effort to complement his narrative history with biographical and autobiographical source material about ordinary diplomats is highly commendable. * Steven Langendonk, International Affairs *
... readable and entertaining book... * Jeremy Rees, NZ Listener *
Fascinating and engrossing, China's Civilian Army sheds new light on the inner workings of Chinese foreign policy. Absolutely required reading for anyone who needs to deal with China or seeks to understand its rise. * Kurt Campbell, White House Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific and author of The Pivot: The Future of American Statecraft in Asia *
There's never been a more important time to understand the motivations that drive Chinese diplomacy. Peter Martin's superb book delves into the history of China's diplomatic corps in way that sheds new light on the nature of Chinese power today. It should become required reading for anyone who hopes to understand Chinese foreign policy. * Stephen J. Hadley, Former US National Security Advisor *
Peter Martin has decoded Chinese diplomacy in this fascinating and carefully researched study. He describes how China's foreign service evolved with the country from humble revolutionary beginnings-and became a voice for a new, rising China whose self-confidence sometimes borders on arrogance. Martin's book explains how China learned to talk like a global superpower. * David Ignatius, Associate Editor and Columnist, The Washington Post *
Martin's book is an absolute marvel-a penetrating portrait of China's political psychology, based on rich, insider accounts that hardly any foreigners have accessed. Entertaining, learned, and immediately useful, this is nothing short of a how-to manual for understanding China's strategy in the world. * Evan Osnos, staff writer, The New Yorker, and winner of the National Book Award *
The United States simply cannot outcompete China without outcompeting its diplomats and economic influence in Asia and around the world. Martin's book skillfully captures the steely determination of China to secure its interests abroad, demonstrating the challenges facing the US and its partners and underscoring the criticality of working together to develop more coordinated approaches to China across the board. * Michele Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Co-Founder of WestExec Advisors *
Book Information
ISBN 9780197513705
Author Peter Martin
Format Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 598g
Dimensions(mm) 243mm * 162mm * 28mm
