Joint Force Quarterly
Abstract
This book review assesses China’s Use of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting, edited by James A. Siebens, which analyzes how China employs military and paramilitary forces to signal, deter, and coerce while remaining below the threshold of armed conflict. Drawing particular attention to the book’s analysis of more than 200 Chinese coercive military operations conducted between 2000 and 2021, the reviewer highlights patterns in Beijing’s use of armed coercion, including its tendency to portray its actions as defensive, apply pressure in territorial disputes, and use military forces as instruments of political signaling. Case studies involving the East and South China Seas and the Sino-Indian border illustrate China’s use of direct deterrence and intimidation against regional actors. The review also discusses the book’s policy recommendations, including strengthening vulnerable allies and partners, improving maritime domain awareness and law enforcement capabilities, and avoiding escalation into direct military confrontation. While noting uneven analytical depth across the edited volume, the reviewer finds the book most valuable when its treatment of military coercion is considered alongside China’s diplomatic, informational, and economic activities. The book provides a useful resource for analysts, planners, and policymakers seeking to understand Chinese gray zone behavior, crisis management, and the strategic and operational goals underlying armed coercion.
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