today's actions and tomorrow's world
As the PLA expands its regional and global reach, China and the world will be forced to consider the implications
A Growing influence
Regional Power
|
Global Outreach
|
Although not yet comparable to the United States in terms of technology and modernization, the PLA is certainly a dominant power in Asia. With the largest military and the greatest expidentures in the world, China is flexing its might, particularly in the Pacific. The PLA Navy is now the largest in the region, operating more than 55 submarines and 79 major warships alone (Lague and Zhu, 2013).
|
Looking to expand the PLA's global significance, President Jinping has pledged to commit 8,000 troops to United Nations peacekeeping forces, largely in Africa (Pollock, 2016). These troops, while officially responsible for UN duties, offer the PLA an opportunity to establish connections abroad, paving the way for future military endeavors.
|
A growing concern
Budget Transparency
|
Defense spending is a direct representation of a country's military capabilities and the relative importance of the miltary to a given government. Budgets and expenditures are often studied to better understand a country's militaristic objectives and historical trends. However, unlike many countries of similar might, China declines to share accurate, detailed information regarding its military budget.
The official PLA figures released for 2015 peg the budget at $146 million, but estimates by the the U.S. Department of Defense and the independent Stolkholm International Peace Research Institute place the value much higher, at $180 billion and $214 billion respectively. Expidentures including foreign military procurement, funds for strategic and nuclear forces, and paramilitary organizations are notable ommissions from the official budget ("What does China really spend on its military?"). While budget reporting is voluntary, there is a growing call for transparancy, and China's reluctance to release complete information comparable to other countries leaves the world uncertain of the PLA's true capabilities and objectives. |
South China Sea
A number of maritime disputes in the South China Sea dating back centuries have come to a boiling point in recent years. China, Vietnam, the Phillipines, Taiwan, Brunei, and Malayasia all lay claim in whole or in part to swaths of the ocean as well as the Spratly and Parcel island chains, creating a number of contentious territory overlaps ("Why is the South China Sea contentious," 2016).
These territories are believed to be rich in natural resource in addition to their value as major shipping routes, and China sees the South China Sea as an opportunity to project its power throughout the region. Given the perceived importance of the territories, the PLA is rapidly militarizing the region by constructing artificial islands outfitted airstrips, piers, and surveillance structures ("China's Maritime Disputes"). A number of high profile incidents have occurred in the past years, leading to fears that a simple miscalculation could quickly escalate into serious armed conflict. The United States is obligated to aid and protect both Japan and the Phillipines as the result of standing treaties, meaning a regional issue has the potential to become a global crisis ("China's Maritime Disputes"). |
Inforgraphic by Statista used under CC BY-ND
|
Explore a map detailing each country's territorial claims
|
View timelapse photos of the PLA's artificial islands
|
Read an interactive timeline of recent military incidents in the area
|
References
China's Maritime Disputes. (n.d.). Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved December 5, 2016
Lague, D., & Zhu, C. (2013, December 24). Rising China's pride and challenge: its increasingly mighty military. Reuters. Retrieved
December 3, 2016
Pollock, J. (2016, February 19). The PLA as Peacekeepers. NATO Association of Canada. Retrieved December 5, 2016
What does China really spend on its military? (n.d.). Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved December 5, 2016
Why is the South China Sea contentious? (2016, July 12). BBC. Retrieved December 5, 2016
China's Maritime Disputes. (n.d.). Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved December 5, 2016
Lague, D., & Zhu, C. (2013, December 24). Rising China's pride and challenge: its increasingly mighty military. Reuters. Retrieved
December 3, 2016
Pollock, J. (2016, February 19). The PLA as Peacekeepers. NATO Association of Canada. Retrieved December 5, 2016
What does China really spend on its military? (n.d.). Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved December 5, 2016
Why is the South China Sea contentious? (2016, July 12). BBC. Retrieved December 5, 2016
Splash Image: Adm Jonathan Greenert of the U.S. Navy departs a PLA navy vessel by U.S. Pacific Command used under CC BY-NC-ND