Internal Chinese documents have been leaked and expose Beijing’s bold military goals.
Military reform documents reveal Beijing’s intent to grow its military prowess abroad for the potential to “manage a crisis, contain a conflict, [and] win a war,” in addition to surpassing the United States in military capabilities, Newsweek reported this week.
The Central Military Commission published the documents in February to promote Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “thought on strengthening the armed forces.”
The Kyodo News agency obtained the leaked document.
The leaked Chinese document also referred to the U.S. military as “a slower vehicle on a curve” that it is slated to surpass, and criticizes the “antagonistic blocs of the Western world.”
However, the document emphasized avoiding the “Thucydides Trap” in which an emerging power faces conflict with a more powerful opponent. It said that a strong military helps to “escape the obsession that war is unavoidable between an emerging power and a ruling hegemony.”
If the planned reform efforts are carried out, it may increase tension with China’s regional neighbors, Japan; the United States, and the disputed South China Sea.
The South China Sea is a critical component of China’s strategy to build up its military power, but the U.S. has no intention to accept Beijing’s claim to the territory. https://t.co/qNhwhq926O pic.twitter.com/DwPQcaUPBf
— Axios (@axios) June 28, 2018
“As we open up and expand our national interests beyond borders, we desperately need a comprehensive protection of our own security around the globe,” the document said.
It reveals that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) goals are consistent with those of Xi Jinping.
The document added that military growth will enable China to “more effectively create a situation, manage a crisis, contain a conflict, win a war, defend the expansion of our country’s strategic interests in an all-round fashion and realize the goals set by the party and Chairman Xi.”
The document emphasized that a “strong military might is important for a country to grow from being big to being strong.”
The tone suggests that China is planning to ramp up its military strategy beyond its coastline.
This week, the PLA Navy launched two Type 055 advanced warships capable of “surface warfare, long-range air defense and anti-submarine operations, as the country’s naval modernization continues apace.”
The destroyers boast technology similar to that of U.S. destroyers, including “multifunction phased array radars used to track the most advanced warplanes.”
The PLA Navy also recently launched Type 001A, its first aircraft carrier produced within China, revealing Beijing’s engineering accomplishment and determination.
This marks the transition from an outdated fleet to a top global fleet.
Earlier this year, a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies said that China had made “remarkable” progress increasing its air and naval power.
The report expressed that China’s military capabilities could surpass the U.S. in coming years.
With increased stealth combat aircraft, missile research and production, along with new warships and naval technology, China’s recent innovations and developments have quickly propelled it to become a world leader in military force.
