China's territorial claims in the South China Sea require a navy that can sustain itself away from shore, air defenses, and air cover for the fleet. The gradual improvement of the naval forces of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been severely retarded by the recent financial crisis there, but one country in Asia continues its methodical military buildup, annual increases in its defense budget, and serious purchases of foreign military equipment-China. Beijing continues to pursue maritime dominance. As in its policy toward Taiwan, Beijing has refused to foreswear the use of force to resolve territorial claims in the South China Sea. In fact, China's own territorial law charges the PLA with enforcing territorial claims in the South China Sea. Beijing's interest in the waters around the Spratly Islands is not primarily for military significance. The energy resources and fishing rights in the area are Beijing's long-term targets. But the fact that major sea lines of communication pass near the Spratly Islands makes the potential for conflict there of strategic significance and a concern for the United States. Serious conflict could disrupt international shipping and commerce. China's maritime requirements drive the acquisition of modern aircraft and modern ships like the Russian Sovremmeny destroyers. The acquisition of an air-to-air refueling capability will give the PLA Navy the capability to support naval deployments in the Spratlys, while China is working to build its own aircraft carrier. More seriously, Beijing's goal of uniting Taiwan with the Mainland is driving other military efforts aimed at deterring any decision to declare independence on Taiwan. Looking once more at the systems on display at the August 1997 Military Museum exhibitions, the PLA's efforts translate into the development of a logistics across the shore capability to support amphibious operations; better coordination of the use of airborne, special operating forces, and amphibious forces; and the integration of air power and ballistic missiles to cripple Taiwan's transportation and communications infrastructure without committing ground forces. China learned about "stand-off operations" from watching the U.S. effort in the 1991 GulfWar. As for aircraft carriers, the former Soviet carrier reported to have been purchased through Macao will probably be a test bed for replication, while the PLA Navy uses the Russian carrier purchased for scrap from South Korea to master other design features. Beijing is working to develop the potential to project naval forces that can dominate parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Beijing's goals are regional domination and hegemony, not world conquest. [40] Beijing wants to ensure that no other Asian or Pacific state acts without having to consider China's potential response. [41] The PRC is the dominant country on the Asian continent and seeks that dominance in the waters of Asia. At present, China's ships cannot sustain themselves at sea for extended periods. The ships are not designed to distill sufficient fresh water to sustain the crew at sea for extended periods. China can dominate the navies of the ASEAN states, but, despite the examination of aircraft carriers by the PLA Navy, there does not seem to be a naval construction effort underway that would give China the potential to decisively project sea power. On average, it has taken China approximately 15 years to develop and produce new classes of ships. By comparison, Japan just took delivery of four very capable amphibious assault ships produced at home in only 3 years. If China is to evolve into a major power at sea, its industrial system must mass-produce dependable, deployable systems at a faster rate. [43] Back to Table of Contents China's Military Potential Back to SSI List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1998 by US Army War College. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com