China's Overseas Military Diplomacy and Implications for U.S. Interests
Abstract
The expansion of Chinas global interests and the subsequent increase in its overseas security footprint have led the Chinese leadership to elevate the role of military diplomacy in supporting Chinas foreign policy objectives, growing the country's influence overseas, and building a strong military that can conduct and sustain missions around the world. The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army's (PLAs) development of expeditionary military capabilities required to protect and advance Chinese interests abroad a mission specifically tasked to the military by the Chinese leadership nearly two decades ago means that the PLA is now more capable of conducting military diplomacy than in the past. China's military frequently engages in high-level visits and professional military exchanges with counterparts overseas, and the PLAs growing naval and air capabilities have enabled it to participate in more bilateral and multilateral exercises with partners outside the Indo-Pacific region, conduct maritime patrols and port visits around the world, and provide nontraditional security services, such as counterpiracy operations, peacekeeping operations, noncombatant evacuation operations (NEOs), humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), and medical assistance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 26, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1191919
Entities
People
- Kristen Gunness
Organizations
- RAND Corporation