Martin Edmonds - Böcker

Defense and strategic studies traditionally have paid little attention to the structure and administrative context within which policy decisions are made. This volume fills that existing gap, focusing on the principal actors in the defense decisionmaking field, their relationships to one another, and the statutory and legal provisions governing the spheres of responsibility and competence among military, civil, and paramilitary institutions. The book is designed to assist scholars and policymakers in comparative analyses of complex organizations and institutions and to identify similarities and differences among the central administrative structures of the major industrial states. Toward this end, each contributor concentrates on his or her own transnational analysis. The authors are all respected experts on defense issues in their own countries, and their analyses conform to a common framework developed to compare central organizations of defense around the world and to define what states can learn from each other’s experiences and what developments can be expected.

This book is designed to assist scholars and policymakers in comparative analyses of complex organizations and institutions of defense and to identify similarities and differences among the central administrative structures of the major industrial states. .

The relationship between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China is regarded as a very serious potential source of conflict in East Asia, especially now that the questions of Hong Kong and Macau have been settled, and increased democratisation in Taiwan is seen as a threat by mainland China. This book, which brings together leading international scholars of maritime security and also strategic thinkers from within Taiwan itself, examines a wide range of questions concerning Taiwan's perception of the naval threat from mainland China, and how Taiwan's navy and naval strategic thinking is responding, including discussions of the strength of Taiwan's naval forces, mainland China's claims and ambitions in the South China Sea, and the controversial question of Theatre Missile Defence.

Recent concern about mainland China's intentions towards Taiwan, and more general concern about the risk of instability in the region, has led to growing interest in Taiwan's military strategy. This book brings together a range of experts from the West and from Taiwan itself who examine the key issues connected with Taiwan's air power, which is a key aspect of the China-Taiwan military balance. During the 1990s, Taiwan invested considerable resources in thoroughly re-equipping its air force with modern air defence and strike aircraft equipped with modern missiles, thereby denying China command of the air in any conflict in the short- to medium-term. In the longer-term, air power will remain a crucial influence on the overall balance, as China's efforts to upgrade its own air force's capabilities begin to undermine Taiwan's current advantages.

The stand-off across the Straits of Taiwan continues to be one of the most dangerous confrontations in Asia. The technical superiority of the Taiwanese forces has been a major factor in maintaining balance, but as mainland China's armed forces modernize, Taiwan's advantages are being eroded. In response, Taiwan has recently undertaken a major reform of its armed forces. Bringing together a wide range of experts including people who are involved in defence policy making in Taiwan, this book presents a comprehensive analysis of these reforms, and assesses their likely effectiveness. Chapters are devoted to issues including the Chinese threat, the domestic context of reform, the role of the United States and specific defence issues, making the book an invaluable guide to the changes undertaken and underway within Taiwan’s strategic environment. With a foreword by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's Defense Reform will be of interest to policy makers and academics working in this vital strategic area.

The stand-off across the Straits of Taiwan continues to be one of the most dangerous confrontations in Asia. The technical superiority of the Taiwanese forces has been a major factor in maintaining balance, but as mainland China's armed forces modernize, Taiwan's advantages are being eroded. In response, Taiwan has recently undertaken a major reform of its armed forces. Bringing together a wide range of experts including people who are involved in defence policy making in Taiwan, this book presents a comprehensive analysis of these reforms, and assesses their likely effectiveness. Chapters are devoted to issues including the Chinese threat, the domestic context of reform, the role of the United States and specific defence issues, making the book an invaluable guide to the changes undertaken and underway within Taiwan’s strategic environment. With a foreword by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's Defense Reform will be of interest to policy makers and academics working in this vital strategic area.

Recent concern about mainland China's intentions towards Taiwan, and more general concern about the risk of instability in the region, has led to growing interest in Taiwan's military strategy, in how Taiwan perceives threats to itself, and in how the Taiwanese military are reacting to these perceived threats. This book, which includes contributions by leading Taiwanese military thinkers, explores current military strategy in Taiwan and how it is evolving. It discusses Taiwan's military modernisation, and the implications of the recent defeat after fifty years in power of the Kuomintang Party, implications which include a move away from an authoritarian garrison state culture, and the beginnings of a more open debate about defence. The book concludes with an overall appraisal of Taiwan's defence vision and makes recommendations on how Taiwan's defence might be enhanced.

The relationship between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China is regarded as a very serious potential source of conflict in East Asia, especially now that the questions of Hong Kong and Macau have been settled, and increased democratisation in Taiwan is seen as a threat by mainland China. This book, which brings together leading international scholars of maritime security and also strategic thinkers from within Taiwan itself, examines a wide range of questions concerning Taiwan's perception of the naval threat from mainland China, and how Taiwan's navy and naval strategic thinking is responding, including discussions of the strength of Taiwan's naval forces, mainland China's claims and ambitions in the South China Sea, and the controversial question of Theatre Missile Defence.

Recent concern about mainland China's intentions towards Taiwan, and more general concern about the risk of instability in the region, has led to growing interest in Taiwan's military strategy. This book brings together a range of experts from the West and from Taiwan itself who examine the key issues connected with Taiwan's air power, which is a key aspect of the China-Taiwan military balance. During the 1990s, Taiwan invested considerable resources in thoroughly re-equipping its air force with modern air defence and strike aircraft equipped with modern missiles, thereby denying China command of the air in any conflict in the short- to medium-term. In the longer-term, air power will remain a crucial influence on the overall balance, as China's efforts to upgrade its own air force's capabilities begin to undermine Taiwan's current advantages.