As part of its efforts to appear transparent about its intentions, to dispel its image as a reclusive regime shrouded in secrecy, and to foster confidence among its neighbours, the Chinese government has been issuing White Papers on national defence every two years since 1998. The eighth in the series, entitled “The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces”, was published on 16 April, 2013.
The crux of China’s national defence policy is to ensure a stable security environment so as to permit the unrestricted development of its economy and the modernisation of its military. Its defence policy relies on military power as a guarantor of China’s strategic autonomy and is designed to ensure that China continues to enjoy unfettered access to critical strategic resources like oil and natural gas as well as rare minerals. China has apparently decided that its interests lie in projecting a positive, balanced and cooperative image to the international community. Its growing economic and military power is gradually giving it the leverage to turn the perceived instability in its security environment into a newfound strength through bilateral and multilateral strategic partnerships and mutually beneficial trade.
However, China is still hesitant to join cooperative regional security arrangements. In fact, over the last few years, China has behaved rather assertively to stake its claims to disputed islands in the South China Sea and in the Sea of Japan. China’s military assertiveness has shaken the confidence of its Asian neighbours in its ability to resolve disputes peacefully.
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