China's Mahan

Xiaobing Li is professor of history and Don Betz Endowed Chair in International Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma. He is the author of The Dragon in the Jungle, Attack at Chosin, Building Ho’s Army, History of Taiwan, and The Cold War in East Asia. He is the executive editor of the Chinese Historical Review. Li served in the PLA in China. He lives in Edmond, Oklahoma.

“This compelling work tells the story of Admiral Liu Huaqing, sometime known as China’s Gorshkov, who like that Soviet admiral, articulated a vision and plan for a modern blue water Navy to rival the United States. Thanks to Liu, this has arguably been mostly accomplished. Understanding Liu’s rise and his framework for China’s naval revival is critical to understanding the Chinese Navy of today and its future. Xiaobing Li brings critical insights that only a deep understanding of Chinese language sources affords. This book is a must read for all interested in understanding China’s plan for world leadership.”—Capt. Brent Sadler, USN (Ret.), author of Naval Power in Action: Seizing the Initiative in the New Cold War with China"Xiaobing Li draws skillfully on Chinese secondary and primary sources, and on one-of-kind interviews to craft a biography which tells the story of Admiral Liu Huaqing and places him in the context of the rise of the Chinese Communist Party and the history of the People’s Republic. China’s Mahan is a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand the history of the People’s Liberation Army Navy and the development of China’s naval strategy.”—Harold Tanner, Professor of History, University of North Texas"Whatever the People’s Republic of China and its People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) becomes, Admiral Liu Huaqing will be a giant in Chinese naval history. This book is based on thorough research on accessible PRC publications and the author’s numerous interviews for three decades. By tracing the admiral's travel of life, it tells not only where the PLAN is from but also where it is going to."—Dr. Sherman Xiaogang Lai, Centre of Defence and Security Studies, University of Manitoba, Canada"As growing PLA military capabilities and Xi Jinping’s expanding ambitions make Chinese naval aspirations a focal point for global affairs, Xiaobing Li’s timely new work China's Mahan is a critical resource for general readers, as well as military and political decision-makers.”—Eric Setzekorn, author of Arming East Asia: Deterring China in the Early Cold War