The Foreign Policy Essay: Why China Will Become a Global Military Power

[Genesis]

@Chinese-Dragon - I thought China didn't want to be a global military power? Perhaps your compatriots aren't too good at analyzing their own country. Have we all been wrong?

Washington urged Americans to stay away from World affairs which you guys largely done up until the world wars.

The situation has changed drastically. The aircraft carrier program was once taboo in Beijing, as the leaders, Jiang, decided whoever wanted to waste money on carriers or military in general instead of development of the country, that guy is a traitor to the nation.

2011 was a very different time.

Things change, the thinking was always the same, but due to different circumstances, the conclusion would be very different.

 

[Aepsilons]

Washington urged Americans to stay away from World affairs which you guys largely done up until the world wars.

The situation has changed drastically. The aircraft carrier program was once taboo in Beijing, as the leaders, Jiang, decided whoever wanted to waste money on carriers or military in general instead of development of the country, that guy is a traitor to the nation.

2011 was a very different time.

Things change, the thinking was always the same, but due to different circumstances, the conclusion would be very different.

Continue on, buddy @Genesis ... Expand more as I want to know why the strategic change .

 

[Genesis]

Continue on, buddy @Genesis ... Expand more as I want to know why the strategic change .

I would say the change is more in circumstance than in thinking.

Do I need a nice car? No, but it's nice to have one. That was true when I worked at Walmart and it is true now. The difference being I can now afford one, and we are where we are now.

China has a growing global presence, our people are wealthier, our nation has more money, etc. When we made the decision to not get involved, we had no interests to speak of, our people were far less self aware(Lets see indonesia try that crap again and see how many of their natives are left this time around), we had no money then and all the cahs needed to improve the livelihood of our people.

So all these factors contributed to the non interference policies.

Did our strategy change? Yes. Was the previous strategy a lie? No. All it is, is that when we look at needs and wants we would come to a different conclusion. Same as me, when I made that purchase, not thatI don't sometimes regret it.

 

[Aepsilons]

I would say the change is more in circumstance than in thinking.

Do I need a nice car? No, but it's nice to have one. That was true when I worked at Walmart and it is true now. The difference being I can now afford one, and we are where we are now.

China has a growing global presence, our people are wealthier, our nation has more money, etc. When we made the decision to not get involved, we had no interests to speak of, our people were far less self aware(Lets see indonesia try that crap again and see how many of their natives are left this time around), we had no money then and all the cahs needed to improve the livelihood of our people.

So all these factors contributed to the non interference policies.

Did our strategy change? Yes. Was the previous strategy a lie? No. All it is, is that when we look at needs and wants we would come to a different conclusion. Same as me, when I made that purchase, not thatI don't sometimes regret it.

In other words, the maturation of Chinese strategic goals and interests.

I like your comparison of the evolution of China's capacity and needs.

 

[Ahmed Jo]

Good. Very good.

Let them know that the days of China being weak are long gone, so the opportunists don't try to grab our lands again.

Does China have any beef with Mongolia? I hope not.

 

[Genesis]

Does China have any beef with Mongolia? I hope not.

Of course we do, we like beef, and Mongolia being a grassland nation most likely sells us some good quality beef.

 

[Aepsilons]

Of course we do, we like beef, and Mongolia being a grassland nation most likely sells us some good quality beef.

@Genesis got jokes tonight.

In regards to that particular avatar...

 

[Shotgunner51]

@Genesis got jokes tonight.

In regards to that particular avatar...

What jokes dude? C'mon share w/ me

Darn can't write anything at Seniors' Cafe ...
That was a nice post you did

 

[Aepsilons]

What jokes dude? C'mon share w/ me

Darn can't write anything at Seniors' Cafe ...
That was a nice post you did

Oh we're both (@Genesis and I) in agreement that Gen's avatar is a beautiful distraction. I'm having a craving for some sweets for some odd reason. Damnn! It's 2:08 am over here, too.

 

[terranMarine]

Oh we're both (@Genesis and I) in agreement that Gen's avatar is a beautiful distraction. I'm having a craving for some sweets for some odd reason. Damnn! It's 2:08 am over here, too.

rabbit milk candy?

 

[Aepsilons]

rabbit milk candy?

YES! I am really craving some white rabbit candy right now.

nom nom nom.

 

[Shotgunner51]

Oh we're both (@Genesis and I) in agreement that Gen's avatar is a beautiful distraction. I'm having a craving for some sweets for some odd reason. Damnn! It's 2:08 am over here, too.

Yeah right can't beat that, I was about to ask @Genesis who is she ...

And I changed mine to turn away lustful eyes on me ...

 

[Yizhi]

And I changed mine to turn away lustful eyes on me ...

buddy, yours can still attract lustful eyes....just of a different kind...

 

[Aepsilons]

The article says the globalization of PLA is an unstoppable trend, I don't disagree with that. However I notice a very significant shortcoming that hinders China from achieving such goal - PLA bases. Comparing with optimistic increase in defense spend, progress of weaponry systems, training of personnel, etc., China's progress in building a global military base network is practically zero.

The global reaching capability of US forces is supported by >100 military bases scattered on every corners on this planet. Even when compared to countries that we thought don't carry much international security responsibilities, e.g. UK, France, they also maintain a smaller but still global of base network.

What is our goal in size terms? For sure we China don't carry as many international security responsibilities as US does, so we might eye on building a smaller one. Ideal locations I don't know, bros feel free to suggest.

How to achieve it? Note that unlike pure defense subjects, PLA alone can't do much in this arena. I think more departments in the government (e.g. diplomatic, commerce, energy admin, space admin) and even in the business sector (energy, shipping, airlines, Beidou, satcoms, construction, etc) have to work together. China's top leadership should see the complexity of it, establish a cross-department unit/commitee to co-ordinate various factions and achieve the ultimate goal.

Hi @Shotgunner51 , I must say that you present a very well written vantage point of the situation. Tho, admittingly, we all really should try to understand the history in which China operates -- and ni large part that historical precedent does influence present policy. The People's Liberation Army has shown -- through past regional intervention -- that it is capable of sending forces to intervene for the sake of stability. In the Korean War, it was not the PLA, but it was the PVA (People's Volunteer Army), as much as 3,000,000 personnel were mobilized to support North Korea, and was instrumental in the eventuality of the 38th Parallel settlement. In Vietnam, the PLA intervened in 1979. It reminds meo of the Sino-Burmese War where the Qianlong Emperor waged a war against Burma's King Hsinbyushin -- with the strategic goal of aiding China's long time ally, Siam, which was then under military occupation by Burma. The war with Burma bore strategic depth because the war with Qianlong forced the Burmese Army occupying Siam to be reoriented to meet the threat from China. This led to the rise of Siam (Thailand) to break off the Burmese yoke and this was realized when King Taksin won Siamese independence.

Can we expect China to exert its influence -- its military power -- in the region ? Sure, definitely. The $64 question is -- whether or not China will go beyond its traditional boundaries and its regional sphere of influence. That remains to be seen. In my opinion, however, if we can judge China's development of a blue water navy and its recent maturation of its amphibious fighting force -- I believe we will see the deployment of Chinese military forces overseas to secure China's strategic interests in Africa and in the Middle East / Persian Gulf.

 

[Shotgunner51]

That's 2:08 am that's ET, you live in NY or what?