A RESEARCH PAPER ON CHINESE DEFENCE & STARTEGY POLICY
inDiploma course in Diplomacy and World Affairs (IX) 2013Module
II assignment
Table of Contents 1. Introduction22. The foreign policy of
Peoples Republic of China in brief 23. Defence and strategic policy
of China as an integral part of Foreign policy3a. Importance of
Defence policy4b. Defence policy implementation for in house
matters6c. Defence policy with immediate neighbours7d. Defence
policy towards surrounding regional system8e. Chinese security
policy towards the world beyond Asia 9 4. Conclusion 10 5.
Bibliography 11
1) IntroductionIt is inevitable that the world is becoming a
global village with the boosting and dynamic technology. Hence, the
international affairs leaving no country alone. Therefore, the
international role of a country is a vital point of protecting its
sovereignty. In very simple term, Foreign policy is the set of
guidelines which control the international role of a country
because it represents the way a country maintain its relationship
other countries. The republic of China has long been preoccupied
with its strategic culture, power balances and shift of the
geopolitical power. In this research paper, the foreign policy of
Peoples Republic of China is discussed by focusing especially on
defence and strategic policy of China.China is a permanent Security
Council member and the biggest emerging super power of the world in
this century. It is said by various economic and defence analysists
that sooner rather than later China will exceed the USA in all
capabilities. However, China is playing a prominent role even in
the current context in the international arena by becoming a part
of United Nations. In nature, China has especially adopted
defensive defence policy rather than offensive policy encompassing
Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The objective of this
research paper is to analyze the characteristics of defence policy
and the strategy of China and the tendency of policy change. It is
witnessed that as much as the China is acquiring the power of
international influence their interest is growing beyond their
immediate territorial concerns in form of counter-piracy,
peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief and regional
military operations, albeit some international challenges due to
their non-transparent military modernization . On the other hand
according to recent development, it is observed that China wants to
deter the hegemonic power of the USA. Therefore, it is interesting
and important to discuss the defence policy and strategy of China
going through vast store of literature.2) The Foreign Policy of
Peoples Republic of China in brief.Chinas Foreign policy is a set
of various polices adopted by the government of China in order to
address defence, social, cultural, political and economic interests
that they believe to protect and develop. In the chinas foreign
policy, observable inherent tenets and implications are portrayed
with a significant emphasise that distinguished China from other
countries. China is a populous country and it is controlled only by
the communist party that always may take steps to crack down any
attempt against it. Those tenets are revealed in terms of Five
Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, New Security Concept, Peaceful
Rise/ Peaceful Development, Period of Strategic Opportunity and
Harmonious World in their foreign policy[footnoteRef:1] with higher
prominence. [1: C. Fred Bergsten .et al. (2008), Chinas rise:
Challenges and Opportunities.]
Since 1980s, Chinas foreign policy was formed on the doctrine of
independent foreign policy of peace according to Deng Xiaoping
(politician and reformist leader of the Communist Party of China).
Hu Jintao, (October 15, 2007), former leader of China, again
proclaimed their commitment to peaceful developments and pursue
independent foreign policy ensuring strategy for the win-win
outcomes with counterparts. Their main goals of foreign policy are
to preserve Chinas independence, political stability, sovereignty,
national interests and territorial integrity and to create a
favourable international environment for Chinas development reform
and modernization. Even though, achievements of China is remarkable
so far with a great leap forward, as all can observe the internal
situation of the country is rather controversial than it appears
due to the limitations such as freedom of speak, elitism, party
governance, corruption, abuse of human rights and other arbitrary
actions which are not accepted in democratic
backgrounds.[footnoteRef:2] Thus, from the beginning, the Chinese
foreign polices evolved on bases of those experiences and that is
why they strictly adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence.[footnoteRef:3] [2: Feldstein, M., (2012) China's
Biggest Problems Are Political, Not Economic. The Wall Street
Journal.] [3: This derived from Indian Panchsheel (from Sanskrit,
panch:five, sheel:virtues), are a set of principles to govern
relations between states. Basically, this was codified in the
agreement between India and China in 1954.Later on even other
countries. This is also considered as five principles of basis of
non-alignment movement.]
3) Defence and strategic policy of China as an integral part of
Foreign policyIn China, its foreign policy aligned with defence and
strategic policy. Defence policy of a country is framework within
which a country identifies threats and aggression of hostility
based on intelligence analysis and defines the limits of national
security, defence alliances, combat readiness, military technology
and mobilizing and organizing of national forces. Defence policy
identifies threats of hostility and aggression based on
intelligence analysis, and defines military scope of national
security, defence alliances, combat readiness, and military
organisation of national forces and their use of military
technology. In addition to that, the national defence policy
defines the national defence strategy[footnoteRef:4]. When china
implements their foreign policy, they think that strategic advances
which gains through foreign policy. [4: Defence policy. (2013,
March 9). InWikipedia, Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:41,
September 1, 2013,
fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Defence_policy&oldid=542941065]
China was never a super power in history and still they feel how
they suffer from marginalization and humiliation. Since after the
Opium War in 1840, the feudalism and colonisation that prevailed in
the country gradually fade off. Once Japan invaded China in 1932
leaving the country incapacity to defend against such a smaller
country less than China twenty in times. Because of those impacts,
they did not have superpower mentality earlier but reactive
thinking and lesser attention to global affairs in the past.
Communist leaders adopted superpower mentality after the
relinquishment of victimised mentality.The chines culture is
strategic in nature, even before 2500 years, they had strategic
perspectives, the book of Art of War written Chinese general Sun
Tzu evidenced how they were proficient in strategic science in
military a long time ago and it is still used by even western
military academies.[footnoteRef:5] Hence, their defence policies
also got the influence of their culture, tradition, political and
social system to adopt such defensive policy. The strategic policy
provide the countries strategic posture with military doctrines on
how and when to deploy national forces against possible threats
against its territory, environment, economy and national interests
along with options of dealing such threats. The defence strategy
and military doctrine are developed through strategic policy and
capability development processes. My intention to brief and analyse
the current defence policy and strategic policy of China. As an
example, the Air Defence Identification Zone over the East China
declared by Chinese government recently stirred especially The USA,
South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. In response to that, The USA and
Japan started joint military exercise to challenge this
declaration. This issue encompasses national security interest of
China and other nations, territorial disputes with Japan over the
Diaoyu Islands. As we can see foreign policy, defence policy and
strategic policy are inextricably linked with each other. [5:
Xiaoming, H. A. L., 2012. Sun Tzu's Wisdom behind China's Diplomacy
and Defence Policy [speech] (01 02 2012).]
The defence policy can be discussed and reviewed on four main
attributes on the area where the defence policy is implemented;
those are in house, in immediate neighbour, in surrounding regional
system and world beyond the Asia. The rise of China in economic and
military power in Asian region has a significant influence for
regional military and economic power. Shifting from bipolar system
to multipolar system was inevitable and China was playing dominant
role in the system in this period. The geopolitics of China, which
are very important in the region due to its size, population,
natural resource and its topography. In the current context
globalization, information availability, are carrying the world
into complexity. Thus, cooperation and harmonization is essential
for the better future even if strategic competition, rivalry,
global challenges are intensifying. However, we cannot forget the
fact that communists were ancestor who led China to modern huge
socialist economy. That is the very reason they believes the
magnitude of the rights of community higher than the individuals
right.(This rather different than western perspectives)The
perspectives in the Western world towards China is not positive
even if it is not straightforward, because it has identified China
is looming threat to Western world. These perspectives came in to
being due to the misinformation and lack of information available
in relation to the chines strategies including the communism.a)
Importance of Defence policyWithin the period of cold war, the
concept of security was evolving with military capabilities and the
technology of weaponries. Therefore, the security of political and
military power became the most concerned and important factor of
the world politics in recent past. As result of that situation,
even China also did not much concern over the defence policy much
in early ages. It was rather late to China to adopt comprehensive
defence policy, which addressed issues beyond its territory.
Threatening behaviour of the USA and USSR greatly encouraged China
to contemplate comprehensive defence policy beyond the territorial
integrity and sovereignty.The innate quality of the defence policy
of China is not offensive but defensive. There are certain and
pivotal objectives of defence policy that are supposed to be
achieved through pursuing the strategic defence plan. A country has
explicit and implicit defence objectives, which were to be
achieved. Nevertheless, activities and various speeches will act as
the guidelines for the national policies.Following inherent
objective are ubiquitous in defence policy as per declarations made
Chinese leaders Protection of motherland from external and internal
threats.(including cyber space, electromagnetic or space)
Consolidating national defence forces and apparatus Resisting
aggression Protection of countrys sovereignty, unity, territorial
integrity. Safeguard the national and maritime interests and
national interests for development.The defence policy framework of
china enables them to have their strategic plan to modernize their
armed forces and weaponries with new technologies. This military
modernization has two contradictory viewpoints from current
superpowers and China. The western worldview this as imminent
threat and China assert that this is their way improve the
capabilities to safeguard to themselves on self-reliance.
Modernization is streamlining the armed forces in Chinese way. In
simple term, their defence objectives can described as modernity,
sovereignty, and stability. Hu Jintao (2007) stated, To strengthen
national defence and the armed forces occupies an important place
in the overall arrangements for the cause of socialism with Chinese
characteristics. Bearing in mind the overall strategic interests of
national security and development, we must take both economic and
national defence development into consideration and make our
country prosperous and our armed forces powerful while building a
moderately prosperous society in all respects.[footnoteRef:6] [6:
Hu, J. (2007). Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese
Characteristics and Strive for New Victories in Building a
Moderately Prosperous Society in all: Report to the Seventeenth
National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Oct. 15,
2007.In Retrieve from http://www. china. org.
cn/english/congress/229611. htm.]
This statement reflects the spirit of chines position for their
military and developments and their strategy towards, integration
national and military development for a flourishing country. The
economic developments is mostly performed through the military
powers is vital aspect to see in Chinese context. The China mostly
rely on military power of china in national economic development
plan and promote active participation of military in economic
construction promotion. This strategy is something like
double-edged sword if it is reviewed in objective manner. If the
demarcation between military development and national development
is vague, China can do many things to military development in name
of economic developments. On the other hand, China wants to
standardize and to have equal distribution of the benefits of
economic developments for the whole country as they adhere to
socialist principles. They perceived PLA is the only apparatus that
can do in that manner. Therefore, a viewer from outside tend to
think, or to have their understanding regarding chines defence
policy be blurred. Thereat perceptions of China other than its
general threat perceptions are indistinct due to unviability of
information from China. After a rational analysis, Michael
Pillsbury (2012)[footnoteRef:7] identified sixteen psychological
fears that create Chinese threat perceptions. Even if it is not a
complete list of fears of China, it has been responsible for
formulating the defence and strategic policy largely. The threat
perception may drive a country to take proactive actions before it
spoils or go beyond their control. Therefore, these sixteen
psychological fears[footnoteRef:8] are matters to be concerned as
issues to be addressed by means of comprehensive defence and
strategic policies. [7: Michael Pillsbury (2012), The Sixteen
Fears: China's Strategic Psychology, Survival: Global Politics and
Strategy, 54:5, 149-182.] [8: Fear of an island blockade, Fear of a
loss of maritime resources, Fear of the choking-off of sea lines of
communication, Fear of a land invasion or territorial
dismemberment, Fear of an armoured or airborne attack, Fear of
internal instability, riots, civil war or terrorism, Fear of
attacks on pipelines, Fear of aircraft-carrier strikes, Fear of
major air-strikes, Fear of Taiwanese independence, Fear of
insufficient forces to liberate Taiwan, Fear of attacks on
strategic missile forces by commandos, jamming or precision
strikes, Fear of escalation and loss of control, Fearof
cyber-attack, Fear of attacks on anti-satellite capabilities and
Fear regional neighbours India, Japan, Vietnam and Russia.]
In this research paper, I would like to discuss how Chinas
overall defence policy is formulated on four keystones i.e. in
house, in immediate neighbour, in surrounding regional system and
world beyond the Asia.
b) Defence policy implementation for in house mattersThe main
attribute that we can observe at glance is integration of economic
development, and military modernization in order to exploit
opportunities to obtain fortified and well-equipped military power
compatible with its national security. This is also a strategic
task for Chinas modernization and common expectation of all Chinese
ethnic groups. China firmly takes the road of peaceful development,
strives to build a harmonious socialist society internally while
promoting enjoyment of lasting peace and prosperity of the world.
China seems to believe internal and external link is so robust even
if they restricted their internal affairs and no cushion to protect
their internal environment if external environment factors fail.
All China is doing can be done only in peaceful environment is the
core belief in China. Therefore, this is rather different in
western approach (e.g. Conspiracy theory adopted by westerners).
Anyway, China intents to show that their intentions are not to be
realpolitik oriented due to its socialism background. Reunification
over the Taiwan Strait is very important point of the defence
policy because the relation between two sides are yet to receive
more strong form and mutual understand. By defence implementations,
China hope to have healthy political and military relation will
create proper and pragmatic integration in to Chinese nation as
they think it as the course of Chinese great rejuvenation.The
Taiwan issue is closely related to Chinas external security and
internal stability. Externally, a military clash across the Taiwan
Strait could end up with a ChinaUS military conflict. Internally,
the mishandling of the Taiwan issue could trigger off social
instability and power struggle in China. However, Taiwan remains a
security challenge to Beijing as strong opposition to and mistrust
of Beijing still exists in Taiwan.In terms of security, it is
crucial to observe the threat perceptions of Taiwan independence,"
East Turkistan independence", Muslim separatists in Xinjiang and
"Tibet independence,. Therefore, a great part of defence policy is
supposed to cover the problems arising with territorial integrity
and sovereignty, oppose, and contain separatist parties. In China,
there a pretty amount of protesting were recorded indicating social
instability. Later on the Chinese government issued Temporary
Regulations Concerning the Implementation of an Accountability
System for Senior Cadres of the Party and Government for ensuring
the accountability of inappropriate mass handling
case.[footnoteRef:9] [9: Yang, J., 2011. Chinas Security
Challenges: Priorities and Policy implication. In: s.l.:s.n., pp.
142 o-159.]
Safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity, air security,
protection of Chinese borders and coastal security are vital part
of in this region of defence policy. The border and coastal defence
forces of the PLA promote friendly cooperation in joint patrols
with neighbour countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and
Vietnam. China defence policy asserts that this (peaceful period)
is the strategic opportunity to address nation development and
modernization of its military power with peaceful environment
within and without. China consistently upholds the policy of no
first use of nuclear weapons, adheres to a self-defensive nuclear
strategy, and will never enter into a nuclear arms race with any
other country. China utilise their military power not only for
defence but also for active participation in national social and
economic developments.
c) Defence policy with immediate neighboursChina has various
issues and disputes with its immediate neighbours due to the land
and sea borders. There are some elemental facts drawn from the
defence policy are more persistent for a long duration.Meanwhile,
territorial disputes with its neighbouring countries have been a
constant challenge to Beijing. China has territorial disputes with
a number of countries, including the dispute over Kashmir with
India, the Spratly Islands (Nansha in Chinese) with Malaysia, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Bhutan, Brunei and possibly Indonesia, some
of the Paracel Islands (Xisha in Chinese) with Vietnam, Senkaku
(Diaoyu) Islands with Japan, Japans equidistance line in the East
China Sea, and certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen rivers with
North Korea. Even if they had problems in Russia, they peacefully
resolved so far. The status of regional leader and modernization of
PLA is implicitly used, as deterrents factor in partisans of
territorial disputes in some cases because it is easy understand
that military clash does not bring a benefit other than cooperation
on strong negotiation foundation. Anyway, China has taken several
measurements to resolve boarder disputes through negotiations after
military clashes such as Sino-Indian Bilateral Peace and
Tranquillity Accords, 1991 Sino-Russian border agreement etc.
Mainly, they shifted their policy from offensive confrontation to
solid foundation of negotiation.
d) Defence policy towards surrounding regional system.With the
military capabilities and economic power has eminent factors that
change the security policy of China form protection sovereignty and
territorial integrity to regional hegemony. In Chinese ideology,
China has linked its strategic influence with overall development
in various fields. By now, China is the military and economic
dominator of the Asia Pacific region. Hence, China is the strategic
and economic future of the region vice versa. As the regional
leader, it has the power of balance to be the security manager of
the region with support of multilateral countries providing an
option to region instead of the USA.Geopolitics, Close proximity,
domestic, ethnic, political and religious dynamics are important
determinants of defence policy of China in the current period.
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is providing a forum
to China to have economic, market and security resources. It is no
wonder why ASEAN forum wary of regional affairs of China due the
level of influence of the region.The latest issuance of the Chines
defence policy has emphasized the close relation with North Korea
in spite of western pressure. This point in their defence policy
imply the power balance of the region in response to the Western.
Maritime security is a paramount part of this part of their
security policy, because the production output and input,
resources, military transportation, mobility are main aspects to
upgrade country to a hegemonic country. Economic developments,
trading, shipping are almost depending on sea routes around the
china. It is not a forgettable fact that ancient Silk Route had
greatly influenced intra-continental economic, cultural and
religious exchange in oriental world.As nexus of China geopolitical
hegemony, China has built up military camps and projects call
pearls [footnoteRef:10] in the region. This total projects is
directed to exploit the opportunities to maintain military
capabilities, strategic [10: Hainan Island, with recently upgraded
military facilities, is a pearl. An upgraded airstrip on Woody
Island, located in the Paracel archipelago 300 nautical miles east
of Vietnam, is a pearl. A container shipping facility in
Chittagong, Bangladesh, is a pearl. Construction of a deep-water
port in Sittwe, Myanmar, is a pearl, as is the construction of a
navy base in Gwadar, Pakistan.Port and airfield construction
projects, diplomatic ties, and force modernization form the essence
of Chinas String of Pearls. The pearls extend from the coast of
mainland China through the littorals of the South China Sea, the
Strait of Malacca, across the Indian Ocean, and on to the littorals
of the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf.]
Sea Lines of Communications
advantages and forward presence. The collection of those pearl
is called String of Pearl. However, the motivation behind the
project is rational because, the as giant manufacturer, it needs to
ensure the protection of sea line of communication (SLOC) from
Middle East China. As anyone can observe, Hambanthota port and
Mattala airport are also some kind of supportive installations for
the Chinese concept of String of Pearls. But, the concept of String
Peals is becoming a headache of US policy makers due to resilience
of the concept with defence strategy. But there is not any pressure
made by China to those governments to do or be inclined to do due
to growing security fear within the region and world. e) Chinese
security policy towards the world beyond Asia.It is not a surprise
to think or say that China is approaching towards a world
superpower. However, unpredictable possibilities are also available
that their course of journey is diverged or hinder. Most of time
they have shown their intention to have strategic partnerships such
as Russia and China for confidence building measurements and deep
multilateral exchange were initiated after the Sino- Russia
agreement.Defence policy for nuclear defence is very important for
the whole word since it is the most tensional factor of the world.
Up to this point they have strictly adhere to the policy of
No-first--use (NFU policy). Nevertheless, the recent issuance of
white paper (2013-April-16)[footnoteRef:11] by the Chinese defence
ministry has stirred the western power over the omission of above
vital fact. The ambiguity over the fact has still existed without
proper reaffirmation. [11: Anon., 2013. Ministry of National
Defence of China. [Online] Available at:
ttp://eng.mod.gov.cn/Database/WhitePapers/index.htm [Accessed 16 09
2013].]
Formulating the concept of comprehensive security and
effectively conducting military operations other than war (MOOTW)
has been stressed in the defence policy. Therefore, the PLA is
conducting military drills and military preparedness in order to
position the PLA in a robust standard.China is extending its
cooperation with other countries especially including Russia and
USA for promoting international peace fulfilling its international
obligation. More participations in peace operation, anti-piracy
missions, and international relief project in international arena
may imply its willingness to have more obligations that are
comprehensive. This is an indication of Chines preparedness to have
the status of Superpower.4) ConclusionIn mid-April, the Chinese
government said that the increased U.S. military presence in the
Asia-Pacific region causes a lot of tension, and they plan to send
forces that are more military and strengthen their partnerships
with neighbouring countries. A recent study found that China
increasingly threatens to end the military supremacy of the
USA.[footnoteRef:12] The USA is also forming USA ally ring around
China to pressure its tension in relation to threat i.e.
Philippine, Taiwan, Japan, India. This is really matter of power
balance of the world with multipolarity and mostly the USA concern
for losing it world order in place of new world order. [12:
Karpova, L., 2013. Prvuda.ru. [Online] Available at:
http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/04-05-2013/124484-china_military_rule-0[Accessed
10 09 2013].]
The size and the growth of Chines economy is apparent and their
peaceful and independent foreign policy has yield opportunities
from the world, especially various resource such as crude oil,
mineral etc. Threat and coercive powers are not viable tools to
exploit opportunities of the real world because the sovereignty of
a country is undeniable.Most of efforts are existing to have
unified nation and integration of regions and ethnic groups in
Chinas defence policy but is not the real propensity of the world.
People are willing to have a control unit, which people can control
easily with high influential power (e.g. small regional autonomy).
Therefore, the defence policy of China is comprehensively to be
reviewed and modified in accordance with the current trends and
necessities. On the other hand, Chinese Defence policy demands more
to be scrutinized due to its looming gigantic military
position.
5) Bibliography
Anon., 2013. Ministry of National Defence of China. [Online]
Available at: http://eng.mod.gov.cn/Database/WhitePapers/index.htm
[Accessed 16 09 2013].C. Fred Bergsten et al., 2008. Chinas rise:
challenges and opportunities. Washington D.C: PETERSON INSTITUTE
FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS.FELDSTEIN, M., August 2, 2012. China's
Biggest Problems Are Political, Not Economic. The Wall Street
Journal.Frolic, B. M., 2009. Political Change in China. Toronto,
Ontario,, York University, University of Toronto.Karpova, L., 2013.
Prvuda.ru. [Online] Available at:
http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/04-05-2013/124484-china_military_rule-0[Accessed
10 09 2013].Pehrson, c. J., July 2006. String of Pearls: meeting
the challenge of chinas rising Power, s.l.: U.S.
Government.Pillsbury, M., 2012. The Sixteen Fears: China's
Strategic Psychology. In: Survival: Global Politics and Strategy.
London: Routledge, pp. 149-182.Xiaoming, H. A. L., 2012. Sun Tzu's
Wisdom Behind China's Diplomacy and Defence Policy [Interview] (01
02 2012).Yang, J., 2011. Chinas Security Challenges: Priorities and
Policy implication. In: s.l.:s.n., pp. 142-159.
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