Journal of Defence Studies

Chess and Go: Strategic Rivalry or Harmonious Balance?

When troops are deployed on active frontier duty - even in peacetime - the key
issues that face commanders are: maintaining morale, vitality and discipline for long
periods. Under difficult climatic conditions or in areas far from human habitation,
the challenges are multiplied.....

Infrastructure Development and Chinese War Waging Capabilities in Tibet

China has created world class infrastructure on the Tibetan plateau in terms of highways, rail links, airports, logistic installations and oil pipelines which have civilian as well as military usage, allowing China to settle its Han majority population into these sparsely populated areas, project power in Central and South Asia, and make sustained efforts to integrate these alien areas. These unprecedented infrastructure developments have significantly multiplied the war waging capabilities of China, including against India.

The Military Confidence Building Measures Strategy Across the Taiwan Strait

On December 31, 2008, the President of China, Hu Jintao, gave an important speech
on the eve of the 30th anniversary of “A letter to the Taiwan compatriots” dated
January 1, 1979, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Soft Way to Consolidate Hard Power: China’s New ‘Low Profile’ Strategy Orientation

China learnt in 2010 that continued strategic tension with the United States provides less advantage to China’s vital interests. For consolidating a peaceful development environment, China began to reshape its rising strategy of “Low Profile with a new identity of an emerging power”. China might not satisfy the US hegemony profile, however, China is not certain nowadays that it can overcome its strategic limits and diplomatic isolation in East Asia.

China and India: Maritime Commonalities and Divergences

When a nation embarks upon the process of shifting from an “inward-leaning economy” to an “outward-leaning economy,” the arena of national security concerns begins to move to the oceans . The expanding economies and ever increasing demand for natural resources has rekindled the maritime vision of these growing nations. The rediscovery of a maritime vision leading to increased inroads in the maritime domain by both these nations could be viewed as being based on maritime commonalities. Along with the commonalities there are divergences in strategic thought and approach.

Impact of Offset Policy on India’s Military Industrial Capability

India’s offset policy in 2005 envisaged direct purchase of products and services, Joint venture, FDI, etc. So far, 12 Offset contracts have been concluded for $2 B. The study shows that most of it is far low end products and services repair and overhaul facilities, training, and simulators. However, expected inflow in terms of long term investments, FDI have not materialized.

Sino-Myanmar Military Cooperation and its Implications for India

China is emerging as the closest strategic partner of Myanmar. This has been advanced by politico-military assistance followed by economic and energy cooperation. Besides, Myanmar is becoming strategically significant for India for strengthening its economic links with South East Asia; for acquiring energy resources and from the security perspective. The Sino-Myanmar military cooperation which started with the negotiation of purchase of arms including jet fighters, armoured vehicles and naval vessels has gone much deeper.

China’s Strategic Culture and Sino-US Military Relations: A Re-view

China’s strategic culture professes both peace and aggression, but is also marked by ruse and deception. Military power is a necessary ingredient of great power status and China’s current rise includes hi-tech military modernisation that can challenge the only contender it has in the Asia-Pacific, the United States.

China’s Strategic Vision and the PLA’s Rise

The aim of this paper is to examine the rising power of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in China’s strategic vision. Since the founding of new China in 1949, there have been instances of PLA leaders challenging the Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership. But on each instance the Party prevailed emphatically. The dictum “The Party commands the gun, and the army protects the Party” is still very much in place. In the last two decades, however, the relationship between the Party and the PLA has undergone some significant changes.

Revolution in Military Affairs with Chinese Characteristics

While China’s interest in Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) dates back to the mid-1980s, the Western hi-tech precision military action in the 1991 Gulf War; the 1999 Kosovo war; the 2003 Iraq war and the continuing Afghan campaign have all convinced it to opt for the RMA, albeit within the limits of Chinese technology, organisation, and defence budget.