The untold story of China's rise as a global superpower, chronicled through the diplomatic shock troops that connect Beijing to the world. China's Civilian Army charts China's transformation from an isolated and impoverished communist state to a global superpower from the perspective of those on the front line: China's diplomats. They give a rare perspective on the greatest geopolitical drama of the last half century.
In the early days of the People's Republic, diplomats were highly-disciplined, committed communists who feared revealing any weakness to the threatening capitalist world. Remarkably, the model that revolutionary leader Zhou Enlai established continues to this day despite the massive changes the country has undergone in recent decades.
Little is known or understood about the inner workings of the Chinese government as the country bursts onto the world stage, as the world's second largest economy and an emerging military superpower. China's Diplomats embody its battle between insecurity and self-confidence, internally and externally. To this day, Chinese diplomats work in pairs so that one can always watch the other for signs of ideological impurity. They're often dubbed China's "wolf warriors" for their combative approach to asserting Chinese interests.
Drawing for the first time on the memoirs of more than a hundred retired diplomats as well as author Peter Martin's first-hand reporting as a journalist in Beijing, this groundbreaking book blends history with current events to tease out enduring lessons about the kind of power China is set to become. It is required reading for anyone who wants to understand China's quest for global power, as seen from the inside.
Industry Reviews
"The author makes extensive use of Chinese language documents; particularly interesting are the memoirs of retired Chinese diplomats used by him. They provide an insight into the inside of Chinese diplomacy." -- Huibert de Man, China 225
"China's Civilian Army is based on Martin's experiences as a reporter in China, as well as dozens of interviews with current and former diplomats in Beijing, Washington and London. Furthermore, it draws on the memoirs of more than 100 retired Chinese diplomats. This is indeed a remarkable achievement." -- FALK HARTIG, Europe-Asia Studies
"Fascinating and engrossing, China's Civilian Army sheds new light on the inner workings of Chinese foreign policy. Absolutely required reading for anyone who needs to deal with China or seeks to understand its rise." -- Kurt Campbell, White House Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific and author of The Pivot: The Future of American Statecraft in Asia
"There's never been a more important time to understand the motivations that drive Chinese diplomacy. Peter Martin's superb book delves into the history of China's diplomatic corps in way that sheds new light on the nature of Chinese power today. It should become required reading for anyone who hopes to understand Chinese foreign policy." -- Stephen J. Hadley, Former US National Security Advisor
"Peter Martin has decoded Chinese diplomacy in this fascinating and carefully researched study. He describes how China's foreign service evolved with the country from humble revolutionary beginningsDLand became a voice for a new, rising China whose self-confidence sometimes borders on arrogance. Martin's book explains how China learned to talk like a global superpower." -- David Ignatius, Associate Editor and Columnist, The Washington Post
"Martin's book is an absolute marvelDLa penetrating portrait of China's political psychology, based on rich, insider accounts that hardly any foreigners have accessed. Entertaining, learned, and immediately useful, this is nothing short of a how-to manual for understanding China's strategy in the world." -- Evan Osnos, staff writer, The New Yorker, and winner of the National Book Award
"The United States simply cannot outcompete China without outcompeting its diplomats and economic influence in Asia and around the world. Martin's book skillfully captures the steely determination of China to secure its interests abroad, demonstrating the challenges facing the US and its partners and underscoring the criticality of working together to develop more coordinated approaches to China across the board." -- Michèle Flournoy, former Under
Secretary of Defense for Policy and Co-Founder of WestExec Advisors
"Peter Martin paints a deeply human portrait of China's emissaries, pulling back the veil on their motivations and struggles." --Axios
