Customer Reviews

Unrestricted Warfare: China's Master Plan to Destroy America

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

This is a padded edition with more hype on terrorism and fear than necessary. The original text by Lang and Xiangsui is a fascinating look at the true weaknesses of the American military system. It is with this book that China identifies America as its sole predominate enemy.

I fully believe and support our military in any and all of its endeavors. However the book correctly points out, among other things, that the US has an obsession with human casualties. It is because of this that wars are fought from a distance, with technology, in order to minimize casualties. This is something that is very evident to anyone who's looked at the American military's history. From World War 2 to Desert Storm II, the increased use of technology and the public outcry over casualties has increased ten fold. This book, correctly so, advances the theory that in the event of a war between China and America, there will be an unconventional war sorts or rather "the war will be fought an won in a war beyond the battlefield" using terrorism, financial institutions, computer hackers, among many others.

The sale of this book is mainly a money making scheme since the CIA translation is available for free all over the internet. On the other hand, this is an excellent book for any foreign policy enthusiast, but more importantly, for those military intelligence analysts who we hope are reading it. This is what China really thinks and the truth really does hurt.

The book is a translation of the very interesting work published in February 1999 by two PLA colonels, namely qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui and the first thing that strikes the reader is the clear mind and the scope of reading that these officers have as a background. Following Martin van Creveld's groundbreaking work "The Transformation of War" (1991), the authors consider the 1991 Gulf War as a crucial turning point in the history of warfare and declare that war between states will be the exception rather than the norm in the future. The target of the book was obviously to warn China (and PLA particularly) that it's not prudent to prepare for a conventional fight against the US military might (regarding the Taiwan issue for example) but to seek new methods by whom "the inferior can defeat the superior". The book's subtitle "China's Master Plan to Destroy America" is not absolutely justified and the reader will not find any clue that China has any connection with the islamic extremism (although the insurgency in Iraq suits her nicely). There are indeed some points inside the book which are really chilling, such as "whether it be intrusions of hackers, a major explosion at the World Trade Center, or a bombing attack by bin Laden, all of these greatly exceed the frequency bandwidth understood by the American military... This is because they have never taken into consideration and have even refused to consider means that are contrary to tradition and to select measures of operation other than military means". The great part of the book is its emphasis on future "non-military warfare" and the warning that "soldiers do not have the monopoly of war". It is unknown whether PLA's top leadership hes endorsed these views or not but there is a troublesome condemnation of the race for superior weapons technology without paying attention to the changing principles of war. The emphasis on non-state opponents like Osam bin Laden is really amazing given that 9/11 wass more thatn two years ahead when the book came out, but currently PLA does not invest only on hackers or financial warfare (althoug this last is a strong dimension of its foreign policy) bying instead modern Su-30s, "Sovremeny" destroyers and "Kilo" submarines for use in a possible war with Taiwan and its allies.

The new kind of warfare which some people call "Fourth Generation War" or "Asymmetric War" has yet to prove its validity and despite some deaths that terrorists caused in the USA, Spain, Britain, Egypt (and more than 25.000 in Iraq) they have not achieved anything of lasting importance, thus their innovative tactics have been proved (for the time being) far less dangerous than classic conventional warfare of World War II type. I found very interesting the authors' suggestion of new principles of war (Omnidirectionality, Synchrony, Limited Objectives, Unlimited Measures, Asymmetry, Minimal Consumption, Multidimension Coordination and Adjustment and Control of the entrie process) but I don't know why they forgot to mention the old but crucial principles of "surprise", "security" and "unity of command". Overall it is an important study which seeks to find new ways to confront or negate the US military superiority but the theory has not proved decisive so far. Probably, the crucial turning point for the ascendancy of this theory will be the use of WMD at the hands of terrorist groups ot other non-state elements. As for PLA, it is rather impossible to conquer Taiwan without firing a shot. On the negative side of the book is the problematic translation of names, hence "Aegis cruisers" become "Zeus shield cruisers" and MacGregor's book "Brealing the Phalanx" becomes Maigeleige's book "Break the Factional Position". Many other names have been changed almost beyond recognition!

For the reader who does not wish to receive such a heavy dose of theory though, I would strongly recommend Peter Howarth's excellent new book "China's Rising Sea Power" instead, which is full of data and a fine operational and strategic analysis of the Chinese goals and means in Western Pacific. It is rather expensive but it worths its money!

The subtitle of the translated work, "China's Master Plan to Destroy America" is added by the translator. If this book were indeed China's master plan to destroy America, would the Chinese military authority be so stupid to publicize its master plan?

The Chinese edition, published in 1999, is not at all anti-America. The United States is indeed a major focus of the book simply because the United States is militarily the most powerful and advanced nation in the world, and it is the only nation that has fought in several major wars, particularly the Gulf War, with significant innovations in weaponry, military strategies and tactics. In fact the authors express their admirations and respects for the many innovations and accomplshments of the Amercian military in the Gulf War, and for the "father" Bush's wisdom of forming an international alliance to fight Saddam Hussein.

As any analysis would do, the book does post questions on some U.S. post Gulf War military thinking. For instance, the authors are puzzled by th fact that the U.S. military still gave so much attention to tanks while in the Gulf War helicopters were proved to be the deadly weapon of destroying the tanks....

On fighting the terrorist war and the future conventional warfare, the two authors are very much indebted to the ideas developed in Alvin Toffler's book, THE THIRD WAVE, and, particularly , in Alvin and Heidi Toffler's WAR AND ANTI-WAR. To illustrate the feasibility of their views, Qiao Liang, the first author of the book, published a novel MORI ZHI MEN or GATE OF ARMAGEDDON in 1995. In the novel, helicopters defeat tanks, and a war between two major powers ends without casualty (a prediction made in Toffler's WAR AND ANTI-WAR).... In the novel, The U.S. is a decisive player in the very delicate and complex international politics, but the novel's hero a Chinese colonel helps defeating the terrorists who attempt to destroy the world not by means of suicide bombers but by using computers (another Toffler's prediction). In CHAOXIANZHAN (UNRESTRICTED WARFARE), the authors are surprised to see that the West and the U.S. are so ill-prepared to defend themselves against terrorists.

As the orginal Chinese UNRESTRICTED WARFARE or CHAOXIANZHAN was published in 1999, the cover of the translated English version shows the imgage of the horrifying destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001. This is a very unfortunate mis-representation either for some political purpose or for monetary gains.

By the way, the two authors of the UNRESTRICTED WARFARE were not educated and trained as professional military men. Colonel Qiao Liang, for instance, received his B.A. degree in Chinese literature, and has published several notable novels. He is employed in the Creative Writing Departament of the Air Force, a Chinese military tradition of believing the power of literature, and was promoted to the rank of colonel because of his literary accomplishment.

This book is written like a Chinese proverb. The writing is very pedantic in places and sounds like proverbs that were translated in to English, at first.

Yet the descriptions the writers have of the first Gulf War and the outcomes and lessons learned from there are incredible. To see the changes in our methodology in Iraqi freedom being outlined before we fought was also astonishing.

This book outlines the methods of fighting only one foe, the USA. They mention a number of times 'the myth of America's invincibility' and then describe the many methods we are vulnerable.

The list includes, economics, biological, our infrastructure, our natural resources, weather, ideological, media, information technology and our military.

China has the numerical resources to fight a multi-tiered battle with us if they choose, when the time is correct. Yet, that would be a time when they would feel that they needed to. The economics of it would not serve China's best interest, nor the worlds. If they were to attack America and attempt to be the only superpower in the world there would be another dark age. However, if another country were to use these methods, yet were able to replace the bread basket and other resources of the USA, then the war supposed in this book would be a possibility, actually, a reality.

Some who have read Sun Tzu's art of war will recognize some of his strategy in this book, feigning weakness, ideological warfare and the like. It is a slow read at first, yet, once you get through the first chapter it picks up.

You must read the footnotes, however, they are not just sources they include additional material that gives a fuller picture and essense of the book. My only question is, why do we produce so much information that our potential enemies can use it against us? China will not use this, however, other enemies, mostly rogue groups with hatred for the US will.

I have lived in Asia not just visited there. My degreed studies in Asian Studies and an understanding of two Asian languages and being married to an Asian lady gives me an insight to the thinking and traditional values and customs on the region. Many of your so called Customer reviews are clearly individuals that are attempting to cover and rewrite the history of our former leader giving our biggest enemy the technology to kill millions of Americans. Their opinions rate with the British that spoke against Churchill when he and others warned of the treachery of Hitler and the third Reich. The obvious attack by one of your rates on the "hawks" in the US is a clear socialist buzz word that has no bearing on this well written and detailed book. The book is very consistent with the Teaching of Sun Tzu and other Chinese History and is completely believable to any reader with an understanding of the material. The Book details some Information that is only known in some circles high above that of the average civilian. A good read with many good warnings. Not for the weak between the ears.

The text of this book is available for free on the Internet. The marketing is sensationalistic and does not tap into what really is in the book. Previous articles have mentioned that using civilain aircraft as bombers and hiding behind bin Laden were tactics advocated by this book- however the language is far more subtle than that, and nowhere is there direct advocacy of anything. The book purports to be a prediction of directions for future warfare. If the Chinese were indeed behind 9-11, no case could be made from this book alone.

I read the book and didn't feel there is any sort of plan to destroy USA. The authors are not military "planners" but rather military writers, who in PLA are a group of privileged intellectuals producing literatures from fictions to documentaries. To call this book a "military manual" is laughable. The Chinese version doesn't have the subtitle. Adding the subtitle, obviously for the hype, by Mr. Al Santoli or his publisher, is unethical, misrepresenting, and displaces a naked ill wish for the future of US-China relation.

The substantial mentioning of Bin Laden in the book is related to the discussion of rule-breakers in warfare, which the book disapproves. It merely says it is a viable form of warfare with new technologies that nations should take it seriously.

OK for entertainment reading. PLA or CIA take it seriously? Laughable, unless they all read NewsMax for guideline.

the book is worth reading, but it looks like a pirated book.

reason:
1. the author would never endorse such subtitle, which distorted the theme of the book totally (as other reviewers also discussed)
2. i can't find the publisher and other info in this page
3. a pdf download can be find if you google, or through, e.g. this site (...)

My one star rating is reserved for the shameless attempt by the Pan American Publishing Company to cash in on the post 911 hysteria (the front cover says it all) and rake in huge profit for themselves (even used copies sells for $40), when translated version can be easily obtained on the internet without the Sino-phobic rhetoric obvious from this published version. In my opinion, the publication itself does not deserve the reader's hard earned money, but the original work is well worth the read.

The original authors of the book (two PlA army colonels) based their analysis on their perspective of the lessons learned from the first Persian gulf war. The core thesis of the book, if one can get over the "anyone who even remotely criticizes the US military doctrine is worthless" bias and view it from a objective point of view, is that the definition of war and means to wage war should be re-examined in this age of information and globalization. Non-convensional means are increasing being employed by supra-national organizations and rogue states to break the rules of engagement in order to inflict disporportional damage to the nations that make and maintain the established rules of engagement. The fact that this book pointed out the potential effects of terrism attack on the US two years before 911 took place is a proof to the original authors foresight.

The original work was not without flaws (in fact, the authors plainly admitted it in the afterwards). The chapter on "golden ratio" borders on numerology and pseudo-science. Their interpretation of the debate and decision making that took place in the US armed forces after the PGW may be erroneous, given that it is extremely difficult for any foreign agent to fully analyze and interpret Pentagon decisions (a daunting task even for branches of the US government itself) due to the lack of data and proximity. This does not prevent the book from being an insightful analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the US military doctrine, and more importantly, a thought provoking piece on what it means to wage war.

It is unfortunate that this body of work has been used to promote anti-sino sentiment and conspiracy theories of Chinese involvment behind 911. Whether Bin Laden took hints from this book when making plans for 911, we'll probably never know (doubtful since he views communism as another "devil" only second place to the US). I'd like to ask those who view this work negatively to take a moment and entertain this hypothetical scenario: if this book wasn't written by two Chinese PLA officers, but by a group of Royal British army officers, or a couple of Westpoint graduates, would they continue to hold negative views towards this body of work? A true patriot doesn't blindly praise everything his country does and bash difference of opinion or criticism (a course that unfortunately many Americans took after 911). Instead, a true patriot filters out his own cultural/personal bias, analyze the information and find ways to improve his nation and help to make it stronger. This, I dare to propose, is the true intention of the original authors: two patriots who analyzed a situation, forumlated their thoughts, and voiced their thoughts in the hope that their national leaders would take actions that strengthens their nation. Something IMHO any patriot should do.

Did China have a hand in 9/11?

"Unrestricted Warfare" means exactly what it says: that modern-day Communist China is dedicated to any means available to destroy its rival for the status of global superpower, the United States---and excerpts suggesting asymmetrical warfare against high-profile, high-casualty civilian targets not only suggest our own conflict against international terrorism, but ups the ante---the book even mentions Osama Bin Laden by name, and notes the destructive effect of an "explosion in the World Trade Center".

China: even its name, Zhongghua, means "Middle Kingdom", the point at which Heaven intersects with Earth. It is the birthplace of great warrior-poet-philosophers, the cradle of gunpowder and high mathematics, for thousands of years the very bastion of civilization against a tide of barbarians.

At the end of the 19th century, in the wake of the brutal "Opium Wars", millions of its people languished in the addiction of opium brought by European traders, who staked out their markets by bringing in the gunboats of their home countries.

China became a slave nation. But only 50 years later, Mao Tse-Tung---another warrior-poet in the tradition of Sun Tzu---had mobilized the people to rise up against Western control, against the Japanese military, and finally, against the pro-Western regime of Chiang Kai-Shek.

Today, China may very well want to be a global hegemon again, and if "Unrestricted Warfare"---supposedly a copy of a super-secret Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) handbook---has any credibility, then China was the shadowy hand behind supposed Islamic radical and terrorist kingpin Osama bin Laden's devastating blow against the United States---China's only real rival---on 9/11.

Ask yourself this question: who *really* benefitted from the suicide attacks against the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001?

Did Yemeni-born rich-boy-gone-bad Osama bin Laden, and his brutal Islamist terrorist group Al Quaeda? Since 9/11, Osama and his iron lung have been confined to high Afghani mountain paths or the depths of caves, tracked by Delta Force and the blackest of U.S. Black Ops. It's true that President Bush has been criticized for not bringing us the head of OBL, but let's face facts: Osama is never going to enjoy a nice chardonnay at a plush restaurant on the Champs D'Elysees again.

Was it good for the Islamist movement? With terrorist redout and Islamist paradise Afghanistan having now gone through its first elections---ever---and elected the pro-Western Hamid Karzai, with women striding the streets of Kabul without chadors or burkhas---and with Iraq's Saddam Hussein hauled up out of his spider hole and elections soon to follow---you tell me.

Who gained? In the early days of the Bush presidency, a harsh spotlight had been fixed, by the White House, on the global spectre of rising Chinese adventurism. Warnings had been issued regarding Taiwan. Congress had convened to debate China's coveted Most Favored Nation status, an economic treat the Clinton White House had always proferred to Beijing. Then in April 2001 the silent war with China took a more heated turn, when an American EP-3 spy-plane was forced by a Chinese fighter jet (destroyed in the process) to crash-land on the Chinese-controlled island, with its crew held hostage by the Chinese government for 11 days, during which relations between the two countries were tense.

The stand-off crystallized a view in the White House that China was the new global threat, and forces---and resources---were mobilized by the Bush strategy team to re-assess the U.S. strategy towards this potential global hegemon.

And then the brutal attacks on 9/11 occurred, and our view shifted over to Islamic fundamentalism. Who gained?

According to this military review meant for China's senior deicision makers, the United States may have the strongest military on Earth, but its citizenry---and its political chattering classes, best embodied by the mainstream media and the New York Times---have an aversion to body count. The writing is terse and dry---calling to mind Zen Koans or the astringent military tactics of Chairman Mao himself---but the overall meaning of "Unrestricted Warfare" is clear: hit the Enemy in his population centers, terrify his citizens, confuse and numb him, intimidate the citizenry with the prospect of thousands of flag-draped caskets riding home in military transports, and the battle for global supremacy can be won without facing a technologically superior foe on the battlefield.

This is changeless Chinese military policy, lifted from 4th century BC Sun Tzu to modern day China: strike with surprise, and strike hard. Never let the Enemy know where you're coming from. Use spies, assassins, messengers of terror.

The point here is not to disparage China: she has her own interests, as well she should, and pursues them as any great power ought to. I have great respect for China, have always been fascinated with that beguiling land, and am stunned by the rapidity with which Mao took a humiliated third-world nation and turned it into a military and economic giant. But if China has its future strategy with regard to the U.S., mapped out, we---if only to secure the blessings of liberty for our posterity---must be ready for her. "Unrestricted Warfare" is a first step in mapping out the uncertain road ahead.