Harpia - Publishing: Flashpoint China - Chinese Air Power and Regional Security

Deino

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It's finally done ... :D

As already announced at the Harpia-PF-site (https://www.facebook.com/Harpia-Publishing-309173565988/?fref=ts), here is Harpia’s latest publication soon to be available:

“Flashpoint China” is – together with “Iraqi Air Power Reborn” – one of the first books in an all-new format from Harpia Publishing. Those readers familiar with Harpia’s previous titles will recognize the layout, colour codes and high-quality paper. Compared to earlier Harpia titles, however, the new series are altogether more compact, running to a total of 80 pages, and enabling coverage of ‘smaller’ themes. Of course, these books also retain the now-familiar in-depth coverage, painstaking research and lavish illustrations (around 75 in all) of their ‘bigger brothers’.

But now to its content:

Originally initiated or born out of the idea to look out what’s the situation at the Chinese borders, to analyse what kind of issues are behind there, it evolved thru a historical review of the different flashpoints and disputes and added a look how does this fit to the current ORBAT. Main focus was therefore set on China’s sight and perception – if possible – to set a few things straight, that are often ignored, omitted or simply not even mentioned in the West.

Quite understandable this resulted in a huge amount of information concerning each and every different “flashpoint”, that in the end had to be cut down to a readable volume, especially since the 80-page limit was a strict “border not to be crossed”; indeed a demanding or even Herculean duty and I’m more than thankful to Tom, who had done this in majority.

In line of this process, the PLA announced its structural reform and even if the script was nearly done, we decided nearly by last-minute to rearrange everything and especially the maps – here another very grateful THANKs to James – in order to comply with the new Chinese command structure so that each chapter includes the latest photos of the frontline aircraft from the relevant command, an up-date ORBAT and a regional map with the relevant Chinese bases.

Overall, this booklet will describe and analyse the current and possible future conflicts between China and its neighbours from a Chinese perspective, with a particular focus on People's Liberation Army air power. It includes a brief – to admit very brief but I hope sufficient long to explain – historical review.

As such I hope it was worth all efforts ... but now it's up to You to decide!

http://www.harpia-publishing.com/galleries/FPCN/index.html
 

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Now available ...
 

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Found a first review:

Review

Regional hegemon China remains a focus of Pacific tension. Now Harpia offers the perfect anodyne to today’s vacuous and shallow reporting on Chinese air power.

Available in North America from Casemate, Flashpoint China bears all the hallmarks of Harpia’s previous publications: superb inquiry, balanced briefings and logical layout – but in a new, compact format spanning just 78 pithy pages!

It’s the stuff of competent intelligence analysis.

Coverage neatly and geographically divides into separate chapters on PRC commands – northern, eastern, southern and western. Sections survey key Chinese capabilities, basing, procurement, R&D and assets – including naval forces. But I think author Andreas Rupprecht means “green water” – not “brown water” – to denote coastal operations.

Contents also recap historical, territorial, economic and defense considerations with neighbor states. Topics and implications remain as fresh as today’s headlines. The South China Sea. Spratly Islands. Woody Island. Border disputes. Islamist insurgents. Even America’s 1990 Pressler Amendment.

Rupprecht also explores potential conflict scenarios. One, for instance, posits a possible Chinese invasion of North Korea – making Pyongyang Beijing’s vassal state.

The generously illustrated effort sports dozens of color photos, 12 tables and six maps. Best of all, this vital volume completely complements Harpia’s excellent Modern Chinese Warplanes – also by author Rupprecht.

Buy them both!

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/ref/harp/book_harp_flashchina.shtml
 
For all still undecided ;) ... I received a fine review for my latest book "Flashpoint China" in "The Journal of JAPCC", Ed. 22, Spring/Summer 2016

http://www.harpia-publishing.com/files/reviews/2016_JAPCC22p95.PDF
 

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Deino said:
ov-101 said:
Good,but...already out of date.

Care to explain in what way or where ?

Chinese air power continues its rapid development,some information is not new now...Maybe you must update your book every year。
 
ov-101 said:
Deino said:
ov-101 said:
Good,but...already out of date.

Care to explain in what way or where ?

Chinese air power continues its rapid development,some information is not new now...Maybe you must update your book every year。

I know, but honestly ... could it be that You just mixed it with my other book "Modern Chinese Warplanes" ??

This book just came out this year in June and included also the latest reorganisation to the Command structure.
That surely does not excludes mistakes or missing information but concerning Your statement I would be very grateful, if You explain, what "is dated" in Your opinion.

Thanks in advance,
Deino
 
Just to inform You ... Harpia Publishing opened a new page related to the two books and all updates concerning the PLAAF ... I will add from time to time the latest Orbat-updates; maybe someone's interested: The first 11 are already up!

https://www.facebook.com/Modern-Chinese-Warplanes-611223845748378/posts/

Comments and critics are always welcome,

Deino
 

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Seems as if someone was quite actively copying my book !

http://bbs.meyet.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=321328&page=4444#pid3764502

from http://www.harpia-publishing.com/?q=node/286/popup&view=detail !!

Should I now be offended, annoyed and angry or should I feel flattered? ;) ;D

Deino
 
the Chinese "reverse engineer" everything - so its hardly surprising but a shock that they decided on plagiarism ref books as well - hope they give some credit to the original author at least else the Blog should be told of the violation and given a warning
 
Thanks but if You noticed by that Smiley I'm indeed more flattered since imitation is the best form of flattery - and they copied it word for word. Even more since it seems as if that magazine accepted me as an authority on the topic. ::)

However my biggest concern (like Tom Cooper noted at ACIG) is that in a few months a certain US think tank or any other "specialist" like Dave Majumdar, David Ave or any other of the usual suspects finds this "Chinese copy" and uses it for an own publication based on his/her 'exclusive, first-hand, genuine Chinese source of reference with information of unprecedented quality' - without ever having even a trace of clue about the origin of all that info ... and a few months later it appears at RAND, Jamestown.org or whatever and that cannot even be described as 'frustrating' since my publications remain entirely unknown in these interesting circles in the USA as all their reference lists always show. :-\

Anyway, maybe someday ...

Deino
 
Deino said:
Thanks but if You noticed by that Smiley I'm indeed more flattered since imitation is the best form of flattery - and they copied it word for word. Even more since it seems as if that magazine accepted me as an authority on the topic. ::)

However my biggest concern is that in a few months a certain US think tank or any other "specialist" like Dave Majumdar, David Ave or any other of the usual suspects finds this "Chinese copy" and uses it for an own publication based on his/her 'exclusive, first-hand, genuine Chinese source of reference with information of unprecedented quality' - without ever having even a trace of clue about the origin of all that info ... and a few months later it appears at RAND, Jamestown.org or whatever and that cannot even be described as 'frustrating' since my publications remain entirely unknown in these interesting circles in the USA as all their reference lists always show. :-\

Anyway, maybe someday ...

Deino

Well - we love you Deino.

Do you really want attributes from folks of that calibre? Folks that are "in the know" will call bullshxx.

Keep up the good work.
 
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