The Chinese Military as Modernization Agent? Continuing the Debate on the Role of Military in Non-Military Missions

How do we explain why some countries have gone farther than others in their utilization of armed forces in non-military missions? After all, are the military as agent of modernization still relevant today? Mainstream theoretical approaches in comparative politics have difficulty responding to these questions. Whether they theorize justification for military's extended role in non-military missions, skeptical to such enquires, these approaches tend to underestimate either danger of military massive involvement in society, or benefit of borrowing manpower of standing army during the peacetime. This article examines China's utilization of its armed forces for non-military missions while maintaining civilian supremacy and military professionalism. This article suggests that the PLA were able to play the role of modernization agent with shared beliefs that served as integrating glue holding the military and party together.