The U.S-China Security and Economic Review Commission (USCC) recently published a staff research paper entitled “Indigenous Weapons Development in China’s Military Modernization” that generated a great deal of media attention. One story noted that the report showed how the United States had “missed the emergence of significant military developments” and was “blinded by Beijing.” Another reportconcluded from the …
Investigating the Chinese Threat
Yesterday, I testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee — the first time that I had ever appeared before a Congressional committee. As for the purpose of the hearing, the title says it all: “Investigating the Chinese Threat, Part One: Military and Economic Aggression.” Topics addressed included the military modernization, cyber espionage, and trade policies, among …
All Quiet in the South China Sea (for now)
I just published a short piece on the South China Sea on the Foreign Affairs website. In the piece, I argue that China, for now, has adopted a more moderate approach to managing its claims in this dispute. In particular, China seeks to restore its tarnished image in East Asia and to reduce the rationale for a …
Clarification of China’s Claims in the South China Sea?
Ambiguity about the extent of China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea has been a key source of concern in this dispute. In the 1990s, China issued a series of domestic laws detailing its maritime claims under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, including 12 nautical mile territorial seas and 200 …
The Chinese Army Today
I have just received my copy of the second edition of Dennis Blasko’s The Chinese Army Today: Tradition and Transformation for the 21st Century (2nd edition). For anyone interested in the modernization of China’s armed forces, this book is a “must read.” The revised edition of The Chinese Army Today has many strengths: First, the book examines the modernization of …
Economic Growth, Regime Insecurity, and Military Strategy
In this article from the latest issue of Asian Security, I examine the sources of the PLA’s new emphasis on nonwar military operations (not to be confused with “military operations than war” or MOOTW in U.S. doctrine). In particular, I explore why China’s armed forces have sought to strengthen their ability to conduct noncombat operations, especially …
Chinese Foreign Policy syllabus
I have just re-tooled my Chinese foreign policy syllabus for an undergraduate lecture course on the topic. Like most academic tasks, revising this syllabus was much more time-consuming than I had anticipated. Moreover, there are never enough lectures to cover all the topics that need to be addressed. Nevertheless, this version seeks to cover both …
China-North Korea Dossier
Adam Cathcart, a professor of history at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington, edits a terrific blog on China and North Korea, sinonk.com. The site contains a great deal of Chinese and Korean language materials that are translated into English and analyzed. One recent post stands out: a “dossier” of materials from the Chinese language press …
China’s Quest for Natural Resources
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a body which Congress created in 2000, has started a new round of hearings. Typically, each hearing examines a particular dimension of China’s international activity and any security implications for the United States. The most recent hearing, held yesterday, explores China’s thirst for natural resources. In particular, the hearing …
China in Africa: The Real Story
Deborah Brautigam, author of the detailed and informative book The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa, has an equally terrific and informative blog. Similarly entitled China in Africa: The Real Story, she covers China’s growing role in Africa — a great resource for those interested in these issues. As she writes, “This blog …