1-20. China’s strategic objectives are informed by its political objectives and generally support the broad political goals of Western Pacific dominance by 2035 and becoming a leading world power by 2049. They are also informed by certain elements of Chinese culture and history: the importance of status and honor, the desire for peace through power, and the belief in Chinese Communism, among other aspects. Chinese strategic objectives are to—
- Maintain internal security and stability.
- Secure and protect land borders and coastlines.
- Maintain regional stability.
- Maintain freedom of navigation.
- Resolve maritime territorial disputes.
- Establish positive conditions for potential hostilities.
MAINTAIN INTERNAL SECURITY AND STABILITY
1-21. Foremost in maintaining internal security and stability is ensuring the position of the CPC as the dominant political entity in China. PLA headquarters at provincial, county, and city levels are military components of the corresponding local government and are responsible for recruitment, demobilization, and other support to local governments. While maintaining domestic stability is the primary mission of the civilian police force and PAP, in extreme situations the PLA may be required to assist these forces in internal security operations.
SECURE AND PROTECT LAND BORDERS AND COASTLINES
1-22. China’s long historic struggle with border security manifests itself today in a vast array of border security measures. Of particular note is the border with North Korea: while ostensibly friendly with the North Koreans, China is deeply concerned with the possible military and humanitarian crisis that might erupt in the event that the North Korean regime falls or war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, China’s shared border with India continues to be a source of friction and conflict.
MAINTAIN REGIONAL STABILITY
1-23. One of the main benefits China sees to regional dominance is the maintenance of peace and order in the Western Pacific and East Asia. In addition to the complex political and diplomatic challenges, this requires the PLA to be capable of conducting shaping and deterrence operations throughout the region, able to deploy and defeat regional threats as required.
MAINTAIN FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION
1-24. China’s economy is largely dependent on exports, most of which travel via the world’s oceans. Maintaining safe and free passage through the global commons is a necessary component of Chinese political stability and economic development. Particular focus areas include the main shipping channels of the Western Pacific, such as the Strait of Malacca and the South Indian Ocean.
RESOLVE MARITIME TERRITORIAL DISPUTES
1-25. China views several land masses and their surrounding territorial waters in the South China Sea—and elsewhere in the Pacific—as strategically important. These include, but are not limited to, the Senkaku Islands, the Spratly Islands, and the Paracel Islands. Their importance is derived not only from their proximity to important global shipping lanes, but also due to their potential usefulness as military bases—particularly for naval and coast guard ships, fixed-wing aircraft, antisubmarine warfare capabilities, and land-based antiaircraft and antiship missile systems.
ESTABLISH POSITIVE CONDITIONS FOR POTENTIAL HOSTILITIES
1-26. China views conflict along a continuum, ranging from steady-state deterrence operations in peacetime through major combat operations. By meticulously—and sometimes covertly—conducting peacetime military and intelligence operations against potential opponents, China seeks to place its military in an advantageous position should active hostilities break out. Such operations include political and diplomatic efforts, offensive and defensive cyber actions, information operations, and covert intelligence operations. Central to this objective is the expansion of overseas basing for the PLA, enabling force projection outside of Chinese borders and giving Chinese leadership greater flexibility in choosing how and where to employ military force.
Note. The concept of information operations will be used in this document consistent with the Chinese expression xinxi zuozhan (信息作战). This is similar to the U.S. DOD term information operations, though it is not as inclusive. Chinese information operations include information warfare, concealment, deception (general efforts to mislead an opponent), and trickery (specific plans targeted at a particular opponent). The Chinese expression for information warfare, xinxi zhan (信息战), refers to direct, specific offensive and defensive actions, such as EW and cyber warfare, and is not analogous to the U.S. concept of information warfare that pertains to an opposing force.