China's Military Capability and Anti-access Area-denial Operations

Abstract

China's military developments and growing naval capabilities are the focus of much discussion among strategists and policy makers. China's moves in this direction are of particular concern because of the implications to maritime security in the region, particularly to countries that have territorial disputes. Its burgeoning military power and growing naval and maritime capability are linked to the country's overall maritime strategy and rising profile in the international arena, raising questions outside the region as to her long-term intentions in the Asia-Pacific region. Of particular interest is China's Anti-access Area-denial (A2/AD) strategy. This paper undertakes an analysis of China's military with specific reference to the A2/AD strategy, and is premised on the belief that the A2/AD strategy is a component of overall Chinese maritime strategy. This paper suggests that People's Liberation Army Navy military capabilities and force developments are inter-related to the evolution of China's maritime strategy, and that China's building onto A2/AD would pose a significant threat to regional security.

The PRC’S Military Strategies on the Security Architecture of East and South China Sea under President Xi Jinping

“…At the same time, military friction keeps getting worse with the United States, which is rapidly increasing its air and naval capacity around the South China Sea. The PLA's A2/AD capability, which has been further consolidated since Xi Jinping came to power, enables PLAN to engage in more ambitious activities in the South China Sea and challenge the United States (Permal, 2014).…”

The Political and Military Aspects of Creating Anti-Access/Area-Denial Systems (A2/AD): The Example Of China and Russia

“…Interestingly, China's current dominance in this area is based not on its overwhelming military potential, but on developing strategic strike capabilities within the framework of the A2 / AD systems being developed. These systems make it possible to isolate and maintain potential enemy naval forces (in the intention of the US forces) at large distances from continental borders (Permal, 2014). Keeping the aggressors away from their own territory is possible mainly by dislocating A2 / AD systems on artificial reefs and islands in the South China Sea.…”