Assessing the PLA’s Earthquake Leadership
In the summer 2008 issue of the China Leadership Monitor, James Mulvenon examines the People’s Liberation Army’s response to the Wenchuan earthquake:
On 12 May, China was rocked by a 7.9 earthquake, epicentered just north of Chengdu in Sichuan Province. The People’s Liberation Army was quickly mobilized to deal with the national disaster, as it has been throughout the PRC’s history. This article examines the military leadership team involved in the earthquake rescue and recovery operation, assessing the implications of the natural disaster for the PLA’s domestic image, civil-military relations, and international posture.
