Chinese Strategic Objectives

Chinese Tactics > PART ONE: People’s Liberation Army Forces > Chapter 1: People’s Liberation Army Fundamentals > Chinese Strategic Objectives

1-20. China’s strategic objectives are informed by its political objectives and generally support the broad
political goals of Western Pacific dominance by 2035 and becoming a leading world power by 2049. They
are also informed by certain elements of Chinese culture and history: the importance of status and honor,
the desire for peace through power, and the belief in Chinese Communism, among other aspects. Chinese
strategic objectives are to—

• Maintain internal security and stability.
• Secure and protect land borders and coastlines.
• Maintain regional stability.
• Maintain freedom of navigation.
• Resolve maritime territorial disputes.
• Establish positive conditions for potential hostilities.

MAINTAIN INTERNAL SECURITY AND STABILITY

1-21. Foremost in maintaining internal security and stability is ensuring the position of the CPC as the
dominant political entity in China. PLA headquarters at provincial, county, and city levels are military
components of the corresponding local government and are responsible for recruitment, demobilization,
and other support to local governments. While maintaining domestic stability is the primary mission of the
civilian police force and PAP, in extreme situations the PLA may be required to assist these forces in
internal security operations.

SECURE AND PROTECT LAND B ORDERS AND C OASTLINES

1-22. China’s long historic struggle with border security manifests itself today in a vast array of border
security measures. Of particular note is the border with North Korea: while ostensibly friendly with the
North Koreans, China is deeply concerned with the possible military and humanitarian crisis that might
erupt in the event that the North Korean regime falls or war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula. In
addition, China’s shared border with India continues to be a source of friction and conflict.

M AINTAIN REGIONAL STABILITY

1-23. One of the main benefits China sees to regional dominance is the maintenance of peace and order in
the Western Pacific and East Asia. In addition to the complex political and diplomatic challenges, this
requires the PLA to be capable of conducting shaping and deterrence operations throughout the region, able to deploy and defeat regional threats as required.

M AINTAIN FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION

1-24. China’s economy is largely dependent on exports, most of which travel via the world’s oceans.
Maintaining safe and free passage through the global commons is a necessary component of Chinese
political stability and economic development. Particular focus areas include the main shipping channels of
the Western Pacific, such as the Strait of Malacca and the South Indian Ocean.

RESOLVE M ARITIME TERRITORIAL DISPUTES

1-25. China views several land masses and their surrounding territorial waters in the South China Sea—
and elsewhere in the Pacific—as strategically important. These include, but are not limited to, the Senkaku
Islands, the Spratly Islands, and the Paracel Islands. Their importance is derived not only from their
proximity to important global shipping lanes, but also due to their potential usefulness as military bases—
particularly for naval and coast guard ships, fixed-wing aircraft, antisubmarine warfare capabilities, and
land-based antiaircraft and antiship missile systems.

ESTABLISH POSITIVE C ONDITIONS FOR POTENTIAL H OSTILITIES

1-26. China views conflict along a continuum, ranging from steady-state deterrence operations in
peacetime through major combat operations. By meticulously—and sometimes covertly—conducting
peacetime military and intelligence operations against potential opponents, China seeks to place its military in an advantageous position should active hostilities break out. Such operations include political and diplomatic efforts, offensive and defensive cyber actions, information operations, and covert intelligence operations. Central to this objective is the expansion of overseas basing for the PLA, enabling force projection outside of Chinese borders and giving Chinese leadership greater flexibility in choosing how and where to employ military force. 

Note. The concept of information operations will be used in this document consistent with the Chinese expression xinxi zuozhan (信息作战). This is similar to the U.S. DOD term information operations, though it is not as inclusive. Chinese information operations include information warfare, concealment, deception (general efforts to mislead an opponent), and trickery (specific plans targeted at a particular opponent). The Chinese expression for information warfare, xinxi zhan (信息战), refers to direct, specific offensive and defensive actions, such as EW and cyber warfare, and is not analogous to the U.S. concept of information warfare that pertains to an opposing force.