China’s Quest for Great Power: Ships Oil and Foreign Policy

This book examines Chinas national security strategy by looking at the three major elements-foreign policy energy security and naval power-all interactive and major influences on Chinas future and its relations with the United States. A decade and a half into the twenty-first century Beijing requires reliable access to energy resources the navy to defend that access and foreign policies to navigate safely toward its goals. Most importantly the Peoples Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) must be able to safeguard Chinas regional maritime interests especially the sovereignty disputes involving Taiwan and the Yellow East China and South China Seas. Many Chinese naval officers and analysts think the United States is determined to contain China and prevent it from achieving the dominant historical position to which it is entitled. This view has been strengthened by Washingtons shift to Asia transfer of naval units to the Pacific and the March 2015 Maritime Strategy released by the U.S. Navy Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Chinas relationship with the United States is vital to both countries and to the world. The relationship is based on both common and divergent interests in economics military operations and political goals and methods. Chinas international trading economy and ambition for a world-class navy require effective foreign diplomacy and participation in global affairs. This policy trifecta in large part defines Chinas posture to the world. Beijing is approximately halfway toward its mid-century goal of deploying a navy capable of defending Chinas perceived maritime interests. Chinas priorities follow President Xi Jinpings definition of national security as comprehensive encompassing politics the military the economy technology the environment and culture. What this means for future Chinese foreign policy choices as naval modernization and energy security concerns enable different courses of action lies at the center of this books conclusions.