Much has been reported about the recent structural reforms undertaken by China’s PLA, the end goal being a leaner and meaner military force, capable of undertaking a broad spectrum of missions under modern, high-tech conditions. Part of this drive towards a “new-age” PLA has been efforts to modernize the PLAMC) which notably carried out its latest winter training in the Gobi Desert, in Xinjiang.
It has been fashionable in national security circles over the last several years for U.S. experts on Asia-Pacific security to claim that Chinese strategists perceive the U.S. to be in decline.
China conducts live-fire exercise in South China Sea; Vietnam requests China to pull drilling rig out of undelineated area; Naval base on Palawan’s Oyster Bay being developed; Countries Should Play By Same Rules In South China Sea; Japanese Prime Minister lambasted China’s provocative actions in the South China Sea; The US, Australia call for peaceful resolution for the dispute in the South China Sea.
-(Navytimes 30/01) U.S. warship sails near disputed island in South China Sea; (SMH 30/12) Australia knew of US patrol of South China Sea; (AFR 30/01) Australia backs US in latest South China Sea stoush; (Vietnamplus 31/01) Vietnam voices respect for aviation and navigation freedom in East Sea; (VOAnews 31/01) Beijing Protests US Sail-By in South China Sea
A new Center for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS) report released last week is a chilling warning of the accelerating preparations of the United States for war with China—a conflict that would likely plunge the world into a nuclear catastrophe.
China has a habit of directing international attention to one area while pulling maneuvers elsewhere. This year began with Beijing landing aircraft on its artificial islands in the South China Sea and moving an oil rig into waters off Vietnam.
In a clear signal to China, US President Barack Obama today said all countries should play by the same rules in international law including freedom of navigation in the South China Sea while India can be an anchor of stability in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean region.
China landed first tourist on artificial island in the Spratly; Vietnam demands China to stop test flight on artificial island; Philippine court allows military deal with U.S. as sides meet in Washington; Malaysia worry China’s provocation in the South China Sea
The study, which calls for America to flex its military muscle in the region, will likely be seized on by Republicans who accuse Obama of weak leadership
China will have so many aircraft carriers by 2030 that the South China Sea will be “virtually a Chinese lake,” a new U.S. study warns, arguing that the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region was shifting away from the United States.