China’s elevation of “national security” to a priority has redefined the military’s role in protecting the country. With the National Security Commission assuming responsibility for managing external dangers, the role of the People’s Liberation Army has shifted to one of support. The military remains responsible for ensuring combat readiness and nuclear deterrence, but its contribution to national security consists primarily of non-war actions to augment civilian-led efforts.

Minxin Pei, The Broken China Dream: How Reform Revived Totalitarianism. Princeton University Press, December 2, 2025, 344 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0691223346 Insights Interview What distinguishes your book from other works on post-Mao China? In the field of political science, most scholarly books on post-Mao China focus on specific or narrow topics. They help us understand certain developments or issues, but they do not provide a broad narrative of political changes during the last