Xi in Command: Downsizing and Reorganizing the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

By | September 11, 2015 | Categories: China
While many eyes were focused on China’s massive military parade in Beijing last week, which displayed a number of types of advanced military hardware, such as missiles, tanks, and fighter jets, another potentially much more important story about the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) appeared to be unfolding, albeit largely behind the scenes. According to recent […]

China’s Airfield Construction at Fiery Cross Reef in Context: Catch-Up or Coercion?

By and | July 29, 2015 | Categories: China, South China Sea, Spratly Islands
Although China is not the first state to build an airstrip in the South China Sea, it is the first state to employ island-building technologies to transform a contested maritime feature into a military base that extends the reach of offensive military capabilities. Other countries have worked to project power to contested South China Sea […]