China's Global Activism: Strategy, Drivers, and Tools

Abstract

Chinese leaders are pursuing a long-term grand strategy based on maintaining a peaceful international environment that allows China to build the economic and technological foundations necessary to become a rich and powerful country. China's increased global activism is intended to secure inputs for the economy; protect against a possible U.S. containment strategy; expand Chinese political influence; and pursue Chinese commercial interests. The timing and pattern of China's increased activism in different regions has evolved along largely independent strategic and economic tracks. This paper analyzes the rationale and drivers for China's increased global activism; examines the tools China is employing and how they are being used; assesses the empirical evidence about priorities and patterns in China's global activities; and considers whether these activities reflect an underlying strategic design. The paper concludes with an overview of likely future developments and an assessment of the implications for the United States.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA463366

Entities

People

  • Phillip C. Saunders

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Commerce
  • Economic Development
  • Foreign Relations
  • Geography
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Investments
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Recreation
  • Students
  • Terrain
  • Treaties
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.