Now the islands are complete, I think we will see a degree of caution in Beijing's next moves, sustaining that presence so far from the Chinese coast is a massive undertaking, and I think the deployment of troops and jet fighters would really cross a threshold for China's neighbors.

Zhang Baohui

Categorized in : World

This is something entirely fresh for Taiwan politics – here is a candidate who sees everything through the pragmatic angle of a businessman rather than raw politics or ideology, he has no baggage and that will be a fascinating scenario.

We can see their (PLA) posture is starting to change and they moving to a new role, in part, we can see them attempting to foster a greater sense of nationality in Hong Kong.

This is about exposing Washington's declining primacy, china gains reputational power by showing the U.S. that it can't dictate Chinese actions.

Vietnam is working the U.S. into an enhanced deterrence strategy, to enhance its relations with China, they have to play the U.S. card.

Frankly, we're always going to see these kinds of incidents as China will always put the priority on national security over something like CUES whenever it feels its interests are directly threatened.

We're in for a difficult time...when it comes to the Paracels, China is not going to budge on what it sees as its absolute sovereign rights, we could see China acting more swiftly and decisively to anything it sees as a so-called provocation in the Paracels.

China's global security posture is becoming more active, and this... by Zhang Baohui

China's global security posture is becoming more active, and this seems to fit that policy.

China will be very sensitive about any moves by Japan or South Korea to improve missile defenses, north Korea may be the stated reason, but Chinese strategists will it see as a move against China to limit its nuclear deterrence.

Nobody predicted this. It refocuses the voters on cross-strait relations, which always benefits KMT candidates.

It is all about power, and that is what makes this so dangerous. by Zhang Baohui

It is all about power, and that is what makes this so dangerous.

That would provide greater security for China's nuclear submarines to survive ... and if necessary to execute their orders in wartime, they would be safer than in open oceans where China cannot provide adequate support.

The larger geo-strategic context is more important than Second Th... by Zhang Baohui

The larger geo-strategic context is more important than Second Thomas Shoal.

It's reckless, it has a built-in dynamic for unintended escalatio... by Zhang Baohui

It's reckless, it has a built-in dynamic for unintended escalation.

This is less about politics and legal issues and more about secur... by Zhang Baohui

This is less about politics and legal issues and more about security, from China's perspective.

Xi has put a premium on the 'dream of a strong military' as part of his grand strategy for China's rise, perhaps more than any other modern (Chinese) leader, this greater emphasis on the military is very significant.