The Chinese term Shashoujian, most commonly translated in Western strategic literature as ‘the assassin’s mace’, may be more than just a reference to innovative weapons systems and weapons development programmes. Manabrata Guha makes a case for recognising it as a key strategic-conceptual armature that may be driving Chinese military strategy, and thus a means for gaining a deeper insight into an emergent Chinese strategic-military posture.

BANNER IMAGE: An examination of the key concepts in China’s military history may show that Beijing's quest for anti-access capabilities is more offensive than previously thought. Courtesy of IceUnshattered/Wikimedia