September 7, 2020
Just How Dangerous is China's Military? A New Report Offers Some Clues.
This is the first time that a U.S. government report has specifically identified places China might be considering as potential bases or logistics hubs.
by Zack Cooper
The Pentagon has just released the 2020 China Military Power Report, one of the leading sources of reliable information on China’s military. This year’s version marks the 20th anniversary of the report and provides a unique perspective on how China’s military has changed over the first two decades of the 21st century. Here are some key changes in the report:
Overseas Operations: This year’s report states that China’s military is not intended “to be merely a showpiece of China’s modernity or to keep it focused solely on regional threats.†It goes on to note: “The PRC [People’s Republic of China] has likely considered locations for PLA [People’s Liberation Army] military logistics facilities in Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, and Tajikistan.†The report also mentions the existing base in Djibouti, China’s interest in Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, and likely outreach to Namibia, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. This is the first time that a US government report has specifically identified places China might be considering as potential bases or logistics hubs.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/just-how-dangerous-chinas-military-new-report-offers-some-clues-168507
