Four reports from the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies examine crucial issues involving the Chinese military: assessing Chinese military transparency; civil-military relations in China and the PLA's role in elite politics; China's out of area naval operations; and China's quest for advanced military aviation technologies (buy, build or steal).Assessing Chinese Military Transparency Executive Summary Introduction Overview Methodology Ratings for China's 2008 Defense White Paper China's Defense White Papers from 1998 to 2008 Comparison: China and ASEAN Member States Comparison: China and Other East Asian and Asia-Pacific White Papers Conclusions Appendix: Definitions and Rating CriteriaCivil-Military Relations in China: Assessing the PLA's Role in Elite Politics Executive Summary Introduction Five Key Trends in Civil-Military Relations Theoretical Models Cases. Conclusion Future DirectionsChina's Out of Area Naval Operations: Case Studies, Trajectories, Obstacles, and Potential Solutions Executive Summary Introduction Approach and Methodology Organization Sources History and Case Studies Other Military Case Studies Analysis Strategy, Operations, and PolicyBuy, Build, or Steal: China's Quest for Advanced Military Aviation Technologies Approaches to Technology Development and Procurement Build, Buy, or Steal Hybrid Approaches: Reverse Engineering, Coproduction, and Codevelopment PLAAF Technology Procurement Strategies: Past, Present, and Future The Era of Sino-Soviet Defense Cooperation (1950-1960) Sino-Soviet Split to the Reform Era (1960-1977) New Windows of Opportunity (1977-1989) New Partners, New Strategies (1989-2004) Looking Forward: Chinese Military Aviation Technology Procurement (2004-Present) ConclusionThe Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is National Defense University's (NDU's) dedicated research arm. INSS includes the Center for Strategic Research, Center for Technology and National Security Policy, Center for Complex Operations, and Center for Strategic Conferencing. The military and civilian analysts and staff who comprise INSS and its subcomponents execute their mission by performing research and analysis, publication, conferences, policy support, and outreach. The mission of INSS is to conduct strategic studies for the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Unified Combatant Commands, to support the national strategic components of the academic programs at NDU, and to perform outreach to other U.S. Government agencies and to the broader national security community.