Rogue Warriors? A Puzzled Look at the Chinese ASAT Test

The disturbing period of bureaucratic silence following China’s recent anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons test is but the latest in a string of incidents raising questions about civilian control or oversight over the Chinese military. Though little data exists about the internal machinations of the Beijing authorities, this article attempts to posit possible explanations for the apparent lack of bureaucratic coordination on the issue and assess the potential implications for Chinese civil-military relations.