China&#039;s Naval Build-Up: Causes and Consequences

Dr. Thomas Wiegand

doi:10.5771/9783845200668

Summary

Since the early 1980ies China - the most populated country in the world - is undergoing an economical and social transformation which is without any parallel in history. If this process continues, the country will be the world"s biggest economy in the next two decades thus becoming a real superpower. While China is building up a world class economy, the country also modernizes its armed forces. This military build-up, foremost the creation of a blue water navy capable of operating on the high seas, causes growing concern and suspicion among its neighbors. The study is giving answers to the question why Beijing is building up its armed forces in this comprehensive manner. Which motives are underlying this modernization? Does Beijing try to achieve the hegemony in the Asian Pacific region?

Dr. Thomas Wiegand is a lecturer and researcher specialized in Asian Pacific security affairs. He is working for several academic and research institutions in Germany.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2007
Copyright year: 2007
ISBN-Print: 978-3-8329-2386-0
ISBN-Online: 978-3-8452-0066-8
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series: Nomos Universitätsschriften - Politik
Volume: 139
Language: English
Pages: 144
Product type: Book Titles

Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis No access Pages 2 - 10 Thomas Wiegand
1. The motivation for the study No access Pages 11 - 12 Thomas Wiegand
2. Structure of this study No access Pages 12 - 15 Thomas Wiegand
1. Power as a factor in international politics – Hans J. Morgenthau No access Pages 16 - 19 Thomas Wiegand
2. 1. Man's limitations – Reinhold Niebuhr No access Pages 19 - 19 Thomas Wiegand
  2. Every man against every man – Thomas Hobbes No access Pages 19 - 20 Thomas Wiegand
  3. Aggression as a means of self-preservation – Konrad Lorenz No access Pages 20 - 21 Thomas Wiegand
  4. The struggle for survival – Charles Darwin No access Pages 21 - 23 Thomas Wiegand
3. 1. The psychological approach – Herbert Kelman No access Pages 23 - 24 Thomas Wiegand
  2. The political approach – Robert Jervis No access Pages 24 - 30 Thomas Wiegand
4. 1. Control of the seas and national power – Alfred T. Mahan No access Pages 30 - 33 Thomas Wiegand
  2. The functions of naval forces – Dieter Mahncke and Hans-Peter Schwarz No access Pages 33 - 35 Thomas Wiegand
  3. The elements of naval power – Sergei G. Gorshkov No access Pages 35 - 36 Thomas Wiegand
1. The history of the navy of the People's Republic of China No access Pages 37 - 39 Thomas Wiegand
2. The command structure and dispositioning of naval forces No access Pages 39 - 41 Thomas Wiegand
3. Ships and weapons systems No access Pages 41 - 46 Thomas Wiegand
4. Military strategy No access Pages 46 - 49 Thomas Wiegand
1. Economic restructuring and its causes No access Pages 50 - 56 Thomas Wiegand
2. The effects of the reforms on the national economy No access Pages 56 - 57 Thomas Wiegand
3. Coal as a source of energy No access Pages 57 - 58 Thomas Wiegand
4. The role of oil and gas in energy supplies No access Pages 58 - 60 Thomas Wiegand
5. The political and economic significance of Central Asia No access Pages 60 - 64 Thomas Wiegand
6. 1. The development of international maritime law No access Pages 64 - 69 Thomas Wiegand
  2. The People's Republic of China and its territorial claims No access Pages 69 - 71 Thomas Wiegand
  3. China's maritime interests No access Pages 71 - 77 Thomas Wiegand
1. The People's Republic of China and the international environment No access Pages 78 - 79 Thomas Wiegand
2. 1. The confrontation with Washington No access Pages 79 - 84 Thomas Wiegand
  2. The break with the USSR and cooperation with the USA No access Pages 84 - 95 Thomas Wiegand
  3. Thomas Wiegand
    1. The Taiwan question No access Thomas Wiegand
    2. The different political systems No access Thomas Wiegand
3. 1. The historical legacy No access Pages 112 - 113 Thomas Wiegand
  2. Japan as ally of the USA No access Pages 113 - 114 Thomas Wiegand
  3. The Japanese-Chinese rapprochement No access Pages 114 - 115 Thomas Wiegand
  4. Difficulties in the relationship between Beijing and Tokyo No access Pages 115 - 120 Thomas Wiegand
1. Washington's strategic interests and the oceans No access Pages 121 - 124 Thomas Wiegand
2. Japan's existential dependence on sea routes No access Pages 124 - 130 Thomas Wiegand
3. The threat to Taiwan No access Pages 130 - 132 Thomas Wiegand
Conclusion No access Pages 133 - 136 Thomas Wiegand
Bibliography No access Pages 137 - 144 Thomas Wiegand