China's Expeditionary Progression
Abstract
China has invested in military modernization efforts to transform its defense and logistics systems to protect its economic interests abroad. For China to execute expeditionary operations to secure its interests abroad, it needs significant expeditionary capabilities. A change in China's expeditionary capacity will indicate if it is progressing towards a more intensive expeditionary force or maintaining a small expeditionary force. This study seeks to answer the following questions: What expeditionary capabilities is China building, and how is it employing them?; and Are there any indicators that China possesses the expeditionary capabilities and has the logistical support structure to sustain endeavors abroad? To answer these questions, the study uses a qualitative case study methodology to assess China's expeditionary capabilities. The three expeditionary case studies analyzed are as follows: Tsunami Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief of 2004, British invasion of the Falklands, and Sierra Leone invasion of 2000. The study defines the terms "expeditionary capabilities" and "expeditionary logistics"; identifies potential problems associated with sustaining expeditionary operations; creates evaluation criteria that are the best leading indicators of capability; uses a subset of those capabilities (enablers) to analyze China's current expeditionary stance; and analyzes five expeditionary logistics models that support and sustain expeditionary operations. The study concludes that China does not currently have the capability to sustain large-scale expeditionary operations. Thus, China will likely follow a path towards building force projection capabilities comparable to other modern expeditionary forces if it plans to engage in more intensive expeditionary operations. If so, China will increase the expeditionary capabilities illustrated by the indicators in this monograph. Until then, China will not be in a position to assume a greater role globally.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA557656
Entities
People
- Donna L. Welch
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College