China’s New Military Strategy
Past few years in South China Sea has seen turbulent times. On one hand, China claims it to be its own territory while the international arena says its international water. There have been tensions over disputed claims to islands in the same region. Amid all this, China, on Tuesday, changed its military strategy from “offshore water defence” to “open sea protection”.
Troubled waters of China
People’s Liberation Army released first of its kind white paper, which described its evolving military strategy. It said that China continues to have “smouldering” disputes over land territory. It also stated that China would not attack unless attacked, but surely would counterattack in case such situation arises.
The border issues between India and China has been up for heated discussion for a long time. Line of Actual Control (LAC) has witnessed several scuffles in the past. Chinese military occupied some of the area in Aksai Chin when the congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power. In his recent visit to China Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged his Chinese counterpart to resolve the issue as it creates mistrust between the two countries. The two country agreed to meet each other on middle ground and sort out the issue.
South China Sea
The new strategy also gives much focus to the concerned countries that are “meddling” in land disputes. It highlights four areas of critical importance i.e. the ocean, outer space, cyber space and nuclear force. The paper quoted, “Some of its offshore neighbours take provocative actions and reinforce their military presence of China’s reefs and islands that they have illegally occupied. Some external countries are also busy meddling in South China Sea affairs; a tiny few maintain constant close-in air and sea surveillance and reconnaissance against China.”
The problems in Xinjiang, north-west China, and the Tibetan Autonomous Region have also been mentioned in the paper. There is an increase in the voices for an independent Tibet and China faces a daunting task at the front. “Further China faces a formidable task to maintain political security and social stability in East Turkistan and Tibet. The ‘East Turkistan Independence’ and ‘Tibet independence’ have inflicted serious damage”, said the paper.
