This book is essential reading for any student of Burma, security in the Asia-Pacific region, China-India relations, or military and strategic priorities in Asia and the world. The key to coming to grips with modern Burma is to understand the country?s armed forces. Although it has dominated all aspects of Burmese life since the 1962 coup, there has been no comprehensive or detailed study of the Tatmadaw as a military institution. Drawing on five years of research in Burma and beyond, including interviews with military specialists and commentators, Andrew Selth has written the first book on the inner workings of the Tatmadaw.Here is a scholarly and objective account of Burma?s strategic posture, its defense policies and threat perceptions; its military doctrine, defense expenditures, arms acquisitions, and combat capabilities. Here are chapters on Burma?s intelligence apparatus, and its suspected uses of chemical and biological weapons. Diagrams and maps illustrate the Tatmadaw?s organization, structure, and order of battle.The author pays particular attention to the dramatic expansion and modernization of t
This book is essential reading for any student of Burma, security in the Asia-Pacific region, China-India relations, or military and strategic priorities in Asia and the world. The key to coming to grips with modern Burma is to understand the country?s armed forces. Although it has dominated all aspects of Burmese life since the 1962 coup, there has been no comprehensive or detailed study of the Tatmadaw as a military institution. Drawing on five years of research in Burma and beyond, including interviews with military specialists and commentators, Andrew Selth has written the first book on the inner workings of the Tatmadaw.Here is a scholarly and objective account of Burma?s strategic posture, its defense policies and threat perceptions; its military doctrine, defense expenditures, arms acquisitions, and combat capabilities. Here are chapters on Burma?s intelligence apparatus, and its suspected uses of chemical and biological weapons. Diagrams and maps illustrate the Tatmadaw?s organization, structure, and order of battle.The author pays particular attention to the dramatic expansion and modernization of t