Maoist Military Doctrines

The military policy and doctrines of any state constitute an integral part of its overall foreign and domestic policies. Furthermore, in Communist China political ideology and military doctrine are closely intertwined and both have been fundamentally influenced by the thought and writings of Mao Tse-tung. Two of Communist China's military doctrines are so closely associated with the name and views of Mao that they can be called Maoist. These are the official doctrine for the defense of Mainland China and Communist China's doctrine of revolutionary warfare. These two doctrines have been spelled out in detail by official Chinese publications and they are based on many years of Chinese Communist military experience. The defense doctrine is meant to provide authoritative guidance to the Chinese military establishment and to civilian officials regarding principles, strategy and techniques for the defense of the Mainland against a spectrum of attacks. Maoist doctrine for revolutionary warfare is meant to provide encouragement and guidance to revolutionaries in all of the underdeveloped areas of the world. Both doctrines represent the application to national policy of the politicomilitary and military concepts of Mao. Both incorporate Mao's major concepts. They demonstrate his almost mystical belief in the mobilized and indoctrinated masses; his strong emphasis on the political objectives of warfare; his belief that man, not weapons, is the decisive factor in war; and his view that victory over a technologically superior enemy can be gained in a protracted war of attrition and annihilation, where human will and perseverance will be major factors. Now, as part of the fanatical cultural revolution, Mao Tse-tung seeks to pass on to future generations, almost as dogma, his unique system of military doctrines, tactics and techniques. Since Mao is being deified in a great cult of the individual, his concepts are officially becoming more and more sacrosanct. This stultifies the modification and modernization of military doctrines and has naturally led to increased opposition to Mao's military views. Peking has not yet produced a full-fledged doctrine on nuclear warfare and may not do so until after an effective nuclear capability has been de-