China’s White Paper: Implications for Southeast Asia

CHINA released its first white paper on military strategy at the end of last month. Issued by the State Council Information Office, the white paper outlines China’s strategy of “active defense,” and highlights four critical security domains: the ocean, outer space, cyberspace, and nuclear forces.

For the states of Southeast Asia, China’s outlined military strategy for the ocean is going to be of particular interest, and is likely to elicit much concern. A number of regional states have been engaged in maritime territorial disputes with China. In recent years, China has become more assertive in its claims that the whole South China Sea falls under its control.