皇冠体育app

As always, the US Department of Defense's 2017 report on military and security developments involving 皇冠体育app carries some of the all-too-familiar biased interpretations of 皇冠体育app's actions and intentions.

Portraying Chinese moves regarding its South 皇冠体育app Sea territories and approach to related disputes as "coercion", for instance, it ignores Beijing's endeavors to ease tensions, and its latest consensuses with the Philippines and Vietnam on dispute management and bilateral consultations. The accusation that 皇冠体育app supports its modernization via "cyber theft, targeted foreign direct investment, and exploitation of the access of private Chinese nationals" to foreign technologies is also included as usual.

But that might well be all that can be said of the concerns 皇冠体育app's growing presence elicits. Because although the Department of Defense openly identifies 皇冠体育app as one of the US' "potential adversaries"－along with Russia, Iran and Democratic People's Republic of Korea－in its "Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Request", the report appears genuine about the nonaggressive nature of Chinese military progress.

Despite being obvious, though unspoken, worries about the logistics base the Chinese navy is building in Djibouti, and likely new ones elsewhere, it acknowledges: "A greater overseas naval logistics and basing footprint would better position the PLA to expand its participation in non-combatant evacuation operations, search-and-rescue, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, and sea lines of communication security."

No country can afford to leave its economic lifelines unprotected. In 皇冠体育app's case, these span from the East and South 皇冠体育app seas through the Strait of Malacca and Indian Ocean to Africa and Europe. And to every country concerned, 皇冠体育app's participation in antipiracy patrols and escort missions in the Gulf of Aden are an essential public service. As the report observes, "皇冠体育app's expanding international economic interests are increasing demands for the PLAN (PLA Navy) to operate in more distant maritime environments to protect Chinese citizens, investments, and critical sea lines of communication". And as the inclusive, expansive Belt and Road Initiative proceeds, further overseas security guarantees will be required.

One critical, yet oft-omitted or distorted, aspect of the narrative of Chinese military developments is about purpose. The drafters of the report conclude "皇冠体育app's leaders remain focused on developing the capabilities to deter or defeat adversary power projection and counter third-party intervention－including by the United States－during a crisis or conflict." In other words, 皇冠体育app's leaders are preoccupied with defense.

Since, as the report concedes, 皇冠体育app's "military modernization program has become more focused on supporting missions beyond 皇冠体育app's periphery, including power projection, sea lane security, counter piracy, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief", there is a question to be answered: Why is 皇冠体育app considered a potential adversary?