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Joint Force Quarterly

Abstract

China’s Use of Armed Coercion, edited by James A. Siebens, examines how China employs military and paramilitary forces to coerce and signal without triggering war, offering valuable insights for policymakers and military strategists. The book analyzes over 200 coercive operations (2000–2021) and highlights China’s ability to frame its actions as defensive while advancing its regional ambitions through intimidation, direct deterrence, and coercion. Case studies, such as sovereignty disputes with the Philippines and India, underscore how China’s military actions are calibrated to avoid outright conflict but maximize psychological and political pressure. The book also explores China’s integration of military and nonmilitary tools across the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic (DIME) spectrum, emphasizing the importance of a holistic understanding of its strategies. Siebens concludes with policy recommendations, urging the United States to bolster allies’ capabilities, enhance maritime awareness, and avoid direct confrontation while countering China’s coercion. This book is an essential resource for understanding China’s strategic goals and for crafting effective U.S. responses to gray zone challenges in an era of escalating competition.

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