Yao Yunzhu is a retired major general of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the director emeritus of the Center on China-American Defense Relations, Academy of Military Sciences, a Senior Consultant to the Secretariate of Beijing Xiangshan Forum. She joined the PLA in 1970, served successively in various positions. She holds an MA from the PLA's Foreign Languages Institute, and a PhD in military science from the Academy of Military Sciences. She has published works on international military and security issues, US military affairs, nuclear weapon policy and international arms control, Asia-Pacific security issues, etc. Her works include Post-war American Deterrence: Theories and Policies, On Asia-Paciffc Security Strategy (author of chapters), and 20^th Century Strategic Legacy and the World through Chinese Scholars (author of chapters).