Month: September 2021

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CHINA: OBJECTIVES, STRATEGY AND MILITARY ROLE

China: National Political Objectives

Like any other nation Chinese national political objectives can be broken into two basic categories: security and development. According to USA these objectives would include the following:

 

Security objectives would include:

  • Protection of the CPC as China’s ruling party.
  • Protection of Chinese sovereignty.
  • Protection of borders.
  • Internal security
  • Nuclear deterrence.

 

Development objectives would include:

  • Protection of Chinese economic interests at home and abroad.
  • Ensuring freedom of navigation for Chinese goods.
  • Procuring important commodities such as energy and raw materials.
  • Establishing new export markets for Chinese goods.

 

Chinese Grand Strategy

China end state desire is to achieve a world power status.

 

Incremental Approach. China views this final objective as incremental: it seeks to be a “prosperous society” by 2035, with the CPC still remaining the dominant political entity in China. The country desires to transition to a “leading world power” by the year 2049 (the centennial anniversary of the country’s founding), complete with a “world-class military.” These objectives are written into the CPC Constitution.

 

Towards this aim, smaller goals could be:

  • Global influence.
  • Economic development.
  • Internal security.
  • CPC primacy.

 

Chinese Strategic Objectives

China’s strategic objectives support her broad political goals dominance by 2035 and becoming a leading world power by 2049. They are also influenced by certain elements of Chinese culture and history: the importance of status and honor, the desire for peace through power, and the belief in Chinese Communism, among other aspects.

 

Chinese strategic objectives and involvement of PLA is as follows:

  1. Maintain Internal Security And Stability. Foremost in maintaining internal security and stability is ensuring the position of the CPC as the dominant political entity in China. PLA is the military components of the government. While maintaining domestic stability is the primary mission of the civilian police force and Peoples Armed Police (PAP), in extreme situations the PLA may be required to assist these forces in internal security operations.

 

  1. SECURE AND PROTECT LAND BORDERS AND COASTLINES. China’s long historic struggle with border security manifests itself today in a vast array of border security measures. Even China’s shared border with India is a source of friction and conflict. PLA needs to be geared up to meet these situations.

 

  1. Maintain Regional Stability. China feels maintaining regional peace and stability is a one of its responsibility as a regional dominant Force. This requires the PLA to be capable of conducting shaping and deterrence operations in the region.

 

  1. MAINTAIN FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION. China’s economy is largely dependent on exports, most of which travel via the world’s oceans. Maintaining safe and free passage through the international waters is necessary for Chinese political stability and economic development. Expeditionary capability would be required for this.

 

  1. RESOLVE MARITIME TERRITORIAL DISPUTES. China views several land masses and their surrounding territorial waters in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the Pacific as strategically important. Their importance is derived from their proximity to important global shipping lanes, and also their potential usefulness as military bases (particularly for naval and coast guard ships, fixed-wing aircraft, antisubmarine warfare capabilities, and land-based antiaircraft and ant ship missile systems).

 

  1. ESTABLISH POSITIVE CONDITIONS FOR POTENTIAL HOSTILITIES. China views conflict along a continuum, ranging from steady-state deterrence operations in peacetime (Grey Zone) to full-fledged combat operations. While China has mastered the art of grey zone operations, it is also expanding on overseas basing for the PLA, enabling force projection outside of Chinese borders and giving Chinese leadership greater flexibility in choosing how and where to employ military force.

 

Chinese Objectives and Military involvement

  • China’s history is deeply intertwined with its military.

 

  • Relationship between the PLA and the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a complex one.

 

  • In contrast to Western militaries, the PLA is deeply politicized.

 

  • While Western militaries are generally apolitical and are divorced from political parties, the PLA is officially the armed wing of the CPC.

 

  • It retains significant ties to Maoist and Marxist-Leninist political thought and has generations-deep connections with the CPC.

 

  • Today, with the primacy of the CPC virtually assured and few internal security threats, the People’s Armed Police (PAP) has taken over much of the internal security mission, while the PLA focuses primarily on development-related external objectives.

 

Military Modernisation

Historically, the PLA had little to no expeditionary capability, minimal mechanization, low-technology systems, and a severe lack of military professionalism.

 

Chinese Objectives and strategy requires a significant enhancement of PLA capabilities.

 

Chinese objectives require meaningful force projection capabilities:

  • A blue-water navy.
  • A modern air force.
  • Long-range targeting and strike capabilities.
  • Enhanced long-range air and sea strategic lift capabilities.
  • Well-trained, well-equipped, professional ground force.

 

Military modernization with economic development is a basic tenet of Chinese national strategy. This has guided the significant increase in annual defence budget for the past two decades.

 

This principle is now manifesting in China’s Military-Civil Fusion program, which seeks greater cooperation between military and civilian elements in achieving shared objectives. An important objective of Military-Civil Fusion is leveraging civilian assets and capabilities as a cost-efficient method of managing limited military resources.

 

Due to one of the largest and longest economic growth cycles in history, China has been able to fund the reform and development of the PLA, modernizing it over the last three decades from a force of poorly armed and poorly trained conscripts into a viable modern military.

 

Bottom Line

China is marching ahead at a very rapid pace.

 

Question

Are we gearing up to meet future challenges?

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

 

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References:

https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN33195-ATP_7-100.3-000-WEB-1.pdf

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THE SCIENCE OF KARMA

On the occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi came across interesting laws of KARMA

Karma

Karma is the Sanskrit word for action. It is an unbreakable law of the cosmos: the law of cause and effect.

Karma is simply those situations or interactions that help us to navigate our path toward our higher purpose.

Karma is a philosophy of how to live our lives so we can truly become the best version of ourselves and live the most fulfilling life we desire.

Karma is a way of living life that promotes positive thinking and actions.

 

Laws of Karma.

Like Newton’s Law of Motion, Karma also has laws.

 

  1. The Law of Cause & Effect: As you sow, so shall you reap.

According to this law, whatever thoughts or energy you put out, you get back — good or bad.

To receive happiness, peace, love, and friendship, one must BE happy, peaceful, loving, and a true friend.

 

  1. The Law of Creation: Life Requires Our Participation.

The law of creation underscores the importance that life doesn’t just happen to us. To make things happen in your life, you need to take action, instead of waiting for something to magically come your way.

 

  1. The Law of Humility: Accepting “What is”.

The law of humility is based on the principle that you must be humble enough to accept that your current reality is the result of your past actions.

One must accept something in order to change it. 

 

  1. The Law of Growth: Growth starts within us.

To positively shape the world, you need to start with yourself. That’s because real change or personal growth begins with what you have control over, which is yourself, not others.

The law of growth also looks at the things you can’t control and how you deal with accepting this fate. Ultimately, your focus should be on you, not trying to control the people or things around you.

 

  1. The Law of Responsibility: Our Life Is of Our Own Doing.

One must take responsibility for what is in one’s life.

If there is something wrong in one’s life, there is something wrong in them.

 

  1. The Law of Connection: Everything in the Universe Is Inter-connected.

This law is based on the principle that everything in your life, including your past, present, and future, are connected.

Who you are today is the result of your previous actions and who you will be tomorrow will be the result of your actions today.

 

  1. The Law of Focus: Focus on one thing at a time.

Focusing on too many things at once can slow you down and lead to frustration and negativity.

Focus on positive values like love and peace, then you’re less likely to be distracted by negative feelings of resentment, greed, or anger,”

 

  1. The Law of Giving & Hospitality: Your actions, reflect your deeper beliefs.

You must give to the things you believe in.

Give without expecting to get anything in return.

 

  1. The Law of Here & Now: Embrace the present.

To experience peace of mind, you have to embrace the present and let go of negative thoughts or behaviours from your past.

If you get too focused on past events, you’ll keep reliving them. Old thoughts, old patterns of behaviour, and old dreams prevent us from having new ones.

 

  1. The Law of Change: Change gives you a new path.

According to this principle, history will continue to repeat itself until you learn from the experience and take steps to do something differently to stop the cycle.

Create a new future and a better version of yourself, free from the patterns of the past.

 

  1. The Law of Patience & Reward: Be consistent in your goals.
    To generate change in the future, we must be consistent in our karmic deeds today.

Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil. True joy comes from doing what one is supposed to be doing, and knowing that the reward will come in its own time.

 

  1. The Law of Significance & Inspiration: Your contributions will affect the world

We all play a part and have something to contribute to this world. We have been born with a specific gift, mission, and purpose that only you can bring into the world with your uniqueness.

What we share may sometimes seem small to us but can make an enormous difference in someone else’s life.

 

Summary: Ready Reckoner

  1. As you sow, so shall you reap.
  2. To make things happen in your life, you need to take action.
  3. Accept something in order to change it. 
  4. To bring in change start with yourself.
  5. Our Life Is of Our Own Doing.
  6. Everything in the Universe (past, present and future) is Inter-connected.
  7. Focus on positive things.
  8. Your actions, reflect your deeper beliefs.
  9. Embrace the present and let go of past.
  10. The Law of Change: Change gives you a new path.
  11. Pursue your goals with perseverance.
  12. Your contributions will affect the world

 

Question

Do you believe in KARMA?

 

Value additions are most welcome

 

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References

https://www.beinghappybuddha.com/blogs/insights/the-12-laws-of-karma-everyone-should-know

https://www.wellandgood.com/12-laws-of-karma/

https://www.healthline.com/health/laws-of-karma#bottom-line

https://medium.com/be-unique/you-can-change-your-life-by-applying-these-12-laws-of-karma-681c2d27674e

https://www.thelawofattraction.com/12-laws-karma/

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BOOK REVIEW: THE POLITICS OF SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTES

Published by Book review literary Trust

BOOK REVIEW

THE POLITICS OF SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTES

By Nehginpao Kipgen

Review by: Air Marshal Anil Khosla (Retd) PVSM, AVSM, VM

 

The South China Sea is a semi-enclosed area measuring 3.6 million square kilometres in the Pacific Ocean. It spreads from Straits of Malacca and Karimata to Taiwan straits and is bordered in the north   by China and Taiwan, the Philippines in the east, Brunei and Malaysia in    the south, and Vietnam in the west. It contains numerous islands, rocks and reefs. Major ones being Spartley islands, Paracel islands, Pratas and Natuna islands and the Scarborough shoal. The area is believed to contain rich reserves of oil, natural gas, minerals and fishery stocks. The region is considered to be a centre of future economic growth in East Asia and is also sometimes called a “second Persian Gulf”. Major sea routes of shipping pass through this area. The strategic location and the abundant resources make it a subject of interest and concern for littoral states and the international community. The security issues around it always remain in focus and it is considered to be one of the flashpoints.

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