ASSESSMENTS

China Grapples With the Realities of Global Power

May 28, 2015 | 09:45 GMT

China Articulates its Expanding Defense Interests
Top: People's Liberation Army Air Force J-10 fighter jets fly in an air show. Center: People's Liberation Army soldiers show their skills in Beijing. Bottom: A Chinese Navy submarine appears at an international fleet review.

(JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images, FENG LI/Getty Images, GUANG NIU/AFP/Getty Images)

Forecast

  • As outlined in China's latest defense white paper, the Chinese military will focus more on the growing internationalization of its role and "active defense."
  • China's expanding economic and military activities in developing countries will make it increasingly difficult for Beijing to counter accusations of imperialism and convince other countries that it remains both politically neutral and capable of protecting its interests.
  • As China becomes more involved in global defense, it will struggle to maintain its professed policies of noninterference while protecting its expanding national interests and will be forced to choose sides in political and security issues. 
  • Weaker states or groups within states will attempt to leverage Chinese power for their own interests. 

China's expanding economic and military activities in developing countries will make it increasingly difficult for Beijing to counter accusations of imperialism and convince other countries that it remains both politically neutral and capable of protecting its interests....

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