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Analysis
Forecast
China's defense white papers are less revelations of new direction than
partial reflections of current trends, carefully crafted for foreign and
domestic consumption. No secrets are revealed, and little new ground
is broken, but a comprehensive view emerges of just how China would
like the world to interpret the evolution of its defense capabilities and
actions. In China's latest such paper, released May 26, China is sending
a message that it is a big power with international interests and will
shoulder international responsibilities, but that unlike other major
powers before it (alluding in particular to the United States), China has
no hegemonic designs.
The centerpiece of China's strategy is "active defense," which Chinese
defense officials contrast with the "proactive" defense policies of other
nations (a clear nod to the emerging Japanese defense doctrine, as well
as to existing U.S. strategy). In short, China wants and needs to
take a stronger and more active role in international security. But it also
wants to prevent any of its actions from being interpreted as aggressive
or imperialistic to avoid the political and security consequences of being
seen as an interventionist power.
Among the shifts in China's overall defense strategy, as laid out in the
white paper but already clearly underway, are modifications of the
primary roles of the various branches of the People's Liberation Army
(PLA). In Section IV of the white paper, China elucidates these changing
roles: