China's Maritime Silk Road to Oil: Prospects for Chinese Influence in the Middle East Through Naval Modernization

Abstract

This thesis explores the prospect of a PRC naval role in the Persian Gulf by 2025 and its implications for the United States Navy, focusing in particular on Beijing's evolving relationship with Iran. Since the last years of the Cold War, China's relationships with the United States and Russia have improved significantly, and China no longer sees these former adversaries as imminent threats. As a result, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has shifted its strategy from a defensive posture to a forward- looking one. Concurrently, economic developments and progress have raised China's aspirations to become the new regional power in Asia. As such, the PRC's economic sustainability will depend greatly on imported oil. The Persian Gulf will be a strategic focus for China in the near future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA435482

Entities

People

  • Roberto C. Dumlao

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boats
  • Department Of State
  • Geography
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Marine Transportation
  • Military Forces (Foreign)
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navies (Foreign)
  • Navy
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Political Science/ International Relations/ European Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies