China came out with its National Defense White Paper of 2010. Some familiar regular rabble rousing like “military interfence of external forces”, “Arms sales to Taiwan”, “Build up in Asia Pacific” etc is already there.
But what is notable is the changes in tone, and some categorical references, which signifies a new assertiveness.
Setting up four task for the People’s Liberation Army, which are,
- Safeguarding national sovereignty, security and interests of national development;
- Maintaining social harmony and stability;
- Accelerating the modernization of national defence and the armed forces;
- Maintaining world peace and stability.
Now the first two points is traditional. The third point is also under consideration for quite sometime now, the Chinese establishment is seeking to cut flab and make its army world class and lean. But the fourth point is what indicates a change in tone, chilling and pretty ominous.
China never openly tried to influence World affairs till a few years back. However, it covertly did. But recent interferance in Cambodia – Thailand border clash, its opinions relating to South Korea – US naval excercise, its open criticism on Libya, and its inroads in infrastructure and development in Pakistan, and Africa are clear signals of its more assertive posturing.
China also kept on mentioning its economy, and that itself proves that China is well aware of its growing economic might, and the way it is perceived with a fear in the West. Evidently it decided to use it as a leverage point.
Cyber Space is, for the first time in history, considered as a key defense sphere. We all know what that means.
Most importantly, as this BBC article points out, China has pointed out US this time clearly, and this time it doesn’t seem to be any empty rhetoric.
Only time will speak about the ultimate goal of Beijing’s modernisation.
