Behind China’s Military Build-Up, an Effort to Project Power Globally

Behind China’s Military Build-Up, an Effort to Project Power Globally
Chinese soldiers march in formation during a parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Communist China in Beijing, Oct. 1, 2019 (AP photo by Mark Schiefelbein).

Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, WPR Newsletter and Engagement Editor Benjamin Wilhelm curates the week’s top news and expert analysis on China.

China is expanding its amphibious military capabilities with an aim to “project power far from home,” Reuters reported this week, posing a challenge to America’s naval dominance. For decades, China’s main aspiration for its military was to secure its borders and dominate its coastal waters. But recent evidence suggests that under the ambitious leadership of Xi Jinping, Beijing’s military ambitions are going global.

In the past year, China has launched two new Type 075 amphibious assault ships. Akin to small aircraft carriers, they can carry 30 helicopters, and potentially even fighter jets. These vessels “will form the spearhead of an expeditionary force to play a role similar to that of the U.S. Marine Corps,” according to Reuters.

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