Last Updated:2014-08-28
In his report on Chinese geopolitics, Dr Raby discusses whether its tactics are expansionist or natural responses to security threats. He concludes that China is reshaping the geo-political world with newfound assertiveness in its quest for resource independence.
'China’s strategic objective in its neighbourhood is to balance US presence, but it is too soon to balance US power. To some extent this has already happened. The US can no longer operate in the western Pacific as it had done unchallenged since 1949. For example, it is inconceivable now that the US would sail a carrier fleet through the Taiwan Straits as it did in 1996 to “teach Beijing a lesson” over Taiwan. Viewed from Beijing, China’s security needs look very different than when viewed from Washington or Canberra.'
