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THE PLA AT HOME AND ABROAD: ASSESSING THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF CHINA’S MILITARY
THE PLA AT HOME AND ABROAD: ASSESSING THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF CHINA’S MILITARY
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It is a distinct honor to write the foreword to this volume dedicated to Ambassador James R. Lilley. I am proud that the George H. W. Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University—along with the National Bureau of Asian Research and the U.S. Army War College—was one of the sponsoring institutions of the September 2009 Conference on the People’s Liberation Army. For the 11th consecutive year, the event has been held at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
It is entirely appropriate that this book of papers presented at the 2009 conference be dedicated to Jim’s memory. He had been closely involved in this series of conferences from the very start; indeed, Jim was the driving force behind the instigation of this enterprise back in the early 1990s. Jim believed that it was important to gather leading specialists on China’s military on a regular basis away from the hustle, bustle, and hype of Washington for serious, objective, and in-depth analysis of the subject. Jim was a man ahead of his time in that he recognized the importance of carefully monitoring and documenting the modernization of China’s military. Moreover, he was committed enough to seek funding, commission experts to write research papers, and ensure the proceedings were published. The result is an entire bookshelf’s worth of high quality edited volumes that are invaluable reference works for policymakers, analysts, scholars, and students.
This volume and many others stand as part of Jim Lilley’s enduring legacy and as testament to the impact that a single determined individual can have on U.S. policy. With the passing of Jim Lilley in October 2009, the United States lost one of its most dedicated public servants and an extremely talented China hand. And I lost an old and loyal friend.
While Jim, of course, needs no introduction to the contributors to this volume and many readers, it is worth mentioning some of the highlights of his extremely eventful life and long history of selfless service to this country. Jim was a China hand literally from the day he was born in Shandong Province and grew up speaking Chinese. Jim’s career of government service began in the military and continued in the intelligence community, with a major focus on China. Later, he shifted to a career as a diplomat. In the early 1980s Jim took the post of chief of the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. Embassy in Taipei. Shortly thereafter, he ably served as U.S. ambassador in two Asian capitals at times of considerable political upheaval—for 3 years in Seoul, Korea, followed by 2 years in Beijing. The latter posting was during my administration and took place at an especially difficult time in America’s relationship with China during the tragedy of Tiananmen Square and its aftermath. Simply put, Jim did an outstanding job.
After such a distinguished career, Jim richly deserved a restful retirement. But leaving government service in 1991 did not mean sitting back in a rocking chair. Jim lived in the Washington area, where he remained an active participant in policy debates on China and Korea and a keen sponsor and lively participant in this conference series.
It is entirely appropriate that this book of papers presented at the 2009 conference be dedicated to Jim’s memory. He had been closely involved in this series of conferences from the very start; indeed, Jim was the driving force behind the instigation of this enterprise back in the early 1990s. Jim believed that it was important to gather leading specialists on China’s military on a regular basis away from the hustle, bustle, and hype of Washington for serious, objective, and in-depth analysis of the subject. Jim was a man ahead of his time in that he recognized the importance of carefully monitoring and documenting the modernization of China’s military. Moreover, he was committed enough to seek funding, commission experts to write research papers, and ensure the proceedings were published. The result is an entire bookshelf’s worth of high quality edited volumes that are invaluable reference works for policymakers, analysts, scholars, and students.
This volume and many others stand as part of Jim Lilley’s enduring legacy and as testament to the impact that a single determined individual can have on U.S. policy. With the passing of Jim Lilley in October 2009, the United States lost one of its most dedicated public servants and an extremely talented China hand. And I lost an old and loyal friend.
While Jim, of course, needs no introduction to the contributors to this volume and many readers, it is worth mentioning some of the highlights of his extremely eventful life and long history of selfless service to this country. Jim was a China hand literally from the day he was born in Shandong Province and grew up speaking Chinese. Jim’s career of government service began in the military and continued in the intelligence community, with a major focus on China. Later, he shifted to a career as a diplomat. In the early 1980s Jim took the post of chief of the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. Embassy in Taipei. Shortly thereafter, he ably served as U.S. ambassador in two Asian capitals at times of considerable political upheaval—for 3 years in Seoul, Korea, followed by 2 years in Beijing. The latter posting was during my administration and took place at an especially difficult time in America’s relationship with China during the tragedy of Tiananmen Square and its aftermath. Simply put, Jim did an outstanding job.
After such a distinguished career, Jim richly deserved a restful retirement. But leaving government service in 1991 did not mean sitting back in a rocking chair. Jim lived in the Washington area, where he remained an active participant in policy debates on China and Korea and a keen sponsor and lively participant in this conference series.
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