Red Star Over the Pacific, Second Edition: Book Review

I don't read many current affairs books.  Often its difficult to judge actions while they're going on, and in just a few years thinking now can prove to be wrong.  However, the case that Toshi Yoshihara and James R Holmes lay out in Red Star Over the Pacific is an important read for consumption to understand a true growing challenge for the United States.  This is a dense book. to be sure  Its target audience really is US military planners and civilian leaders, but the information presented is accessible to everyone.  And its an important case to be made to the American public about the growing strength and ambitions of the PLAN (Peoples Liberation Army Navy).

The authors lay out the strategic reasons for why China would be expanding its navy from a mostly defensive force to envisioning a true peer blue water fleet to the US.  Largely driven by the geography of the First Island Chain, the Chinese seek to secure their future as a maritime and world power.  Examining both current Chinese defense literature and the writings of early communist defense writers, the book lays out why the Chinese seem to be on a true Mahanian course for their build up. The current development of some of the most advanced anti-ship missiles in the world help to under gird a network of quickly growing in quality warships to secure the first island chain in the event of a conflict.  This build up would allow the Chinese then to project power to the Second Island chain.  The end thrust of the book points to how the US and its western allies have moved to a post-Mahanian navy, and the dangers that could entail in the future.  This point is underscored today by the recent report from ProPublica on the USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain tragedies in 2016.  The authors are quick to point out the US and CHina are not neccessarily on a collision course for armed conflict, but explores several possibilites that could lead to one.

This overall is a very timely read.  The book reads well even for more novice folks, and is a good look at the dangers of the current situation in the Western Pacific.  US leaders must walk a fine line between preparing for but not exacerbating a conflict in this theatre.  This book provides a good reason for why there must be action taken sooner rather than later.