Chinese Geopolitics
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Refer to Zeng He's 7 voyages in the 15th Century. I believe this is a major historical period that PRC based its claimed sovereignty over 80% of the South China Sea. These Zen He's voyages and the resultant PRC claim do not hold water for countries who also claimed ownership of their territorial waters in the South China Sea. Majority believe that the best solution is to bring up the disputes to the UNCLOS. BTW, I am sure you can find the book/s on Zeng He's journey in any good library. Wonderful read. I have 2 (1 China produced) in my private collection.
Blackstone
Brigadier
A 30,000' view of China's current 'offensive' statecraft include-
*A2/AD to keep USN as far away from the first island chain as possible; make it unacceptably expensive in blood and treasure for the US to interfere with China's national interest inside the first island chain
*China Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force to deal with Japan around Diaoyu islands
*Civilian agencies (Coast Guard and MSA) white hulls to deal with South China Sea contestants (the PLAN is always standing by for action)
*Small army units conducting cross-boarder acts against India
*Demographic and economic invasion/takeover of Siberia from Russia
*Aggressive propaganda, diplomacy, and "lawfare" against all comers except Russia
*Continue economic takeover of Asia, and make inroads in Central Asia, South Asia, Africa, Middle East, and South America
*Strong support for Pakistan and lukewarm support for the child-king in North Korea
I'm sure I missed a few, but the above's a good start.
It predates Zhang he for sure... Because I think it is based on the tribute system.. Which historically requires said tribute giver to recognize Chinese superiority and moral overlordship before favorable trade relations towards the tribute giver and in fact any trade will be allowed to commence.
How people read the overlordship is a different issue.... Unequal treaties? Or right to avenge territory from subsequent governments that have superseded thee original tribute giver?
Ming China did exterminate the Portuguese from the SCS in the 1400s when they attacked the sultan of Malacca which was a Chinese tributary state... Likewise China sent the black flag army against France when France invaded Vietnam.
Blackstone
Brigadier
There's also the Sino-Dutch war of 1661 where the Dutch were driven out of Taiwan.
solarz
Brigadier
If you're trying to compare China with USA, or to a lesser extent, Russia, then don't bother. China's greatest concern today, and in the next few decades, is and will remain its domestic issues. Overpopulation, rapid social changes, pollution, food safety, social accountability, health care... these are all monumental challenges that dwarf any concern of power projections.
Where China needs to project power are issues that touch upon its core interests: Taiwan independence, Xinjiang terrorism, South China Sea islands, Diaoyu Islands. On those issues, China's actions and plans are clear to see: expanded cooperation with the central asian -stans, modernization of the PLAN to defend its claims in SCS and Diaoyu, continued strengthening of A2/AD capabilities to counter US containment strategies, which at the same stroke, dissuades Taiwan independence.
You need to understand that Chinese geopolitical thinking had been and continued to be the same over the past 5000 years. In a sense it means, China can wait several hundred years for fruition, can her competitors?
Almost everything China had done is according to this logic; from antiquity to the present day, China will continue to use her massive economy to attract other civilizations and lever it for respect. China will continue to export it's culture - as the only ancient culture to have survived to the current day intact.
Side track a bit, it is funny how western media like to make the distinction of "Han" Chinese and Tibetans, Uyghur and other racial groups... but the funny fact is, most people whom associated themselves as "Han" are not ethnically "Han"; but like being "Roman" it is an identity that had been picked up. Being Chinese is to be a part of the Chinese culture - which is also to say that Chinese culture is constantly evolving and a sci-fi description would be that China is like the Borg.
The fact is, China had always gone about politics by assimilation; and there would not be a reason why China will not continue to do so. Therefore, the Chinese military had mainly been reactionary to this day; it only need to be strong enough to deter an enemy from attacking and the fruits of assimilation will surely come.
And it is happening now; you want to do business? you should learn Chinese, you want to do business with China, you better pick up Chinese customs.
Engineer
Major
China's geopolitical thinking is all about non-interference.
Welcome to Sino Defence Major
Unfortunately; as others have already said, there is no concise, definitive source that will help you understand China's current geopolitical objectives and the strategies it is/will employ to achieve them. What you need to do is to spend a long time, learning to understand how the Chinese State sees the world from its perspective and learn how to interpret the very subtle code, through which it dispenses the occasional clue as to its intentions.
It is though fair to say that many of its ultimate objectives are not substantially different to those of many of its past eras, the only obvious difference is the precise means and capabilities; relevant to the reality of the modern age, through which it can realise them.
If I were to point you in a specific direction, the it would be that China primarily seeks to establish a secure and stable international environment, favourable to its own development and continued gain in wealth. China is seeking to achieve this today; just as it did in the past, by establishing and controlling/maintaining trans Eurasian land trade routes.
Much of the work relating to re-establishing these routes are undertaken on a collective regional basis, through the offices of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, so certainly you should follow activities through that organisation.
Most of the current work relates to the building of trans continental infrastructure projects - Oil and Gas Pipelines, Super Highways, Railways, Power and Water. You can follow progress through regular review of the Chinese Media.
Good luck, but do not expect to see any big picture in any short time frame.
Unfortunately; as others have already said, there is no concise, definitive source that will help you understand China's current geopolitical objectives and the strategies it is/will employ to achieve them. What you need to do is to spend a long time, learning to understand how the Chinese State sees the world from its perspective and learn how to interpret the very subtle code, through which it dispenses the occasional clue as to its intentions.
It is though fair to say that many of its ultimate objectives are not substantially different to those of many of its past eras, the only obvious difference is the precise means and capabilities; relevant to the reality of the modern age, through which it can realise them.
If I were to point you in a specific direction, the it would be that China primarily seeks to establish a secure and stable international environment, favourable to its own development and continued gain in wealth. China is seeking to achieve this today; just as it did in the past, by establishing and controlling/maintaining trans Eurasian land trade routes.
Much of the work relating to re-establishing these routes are undertaken on a collective regional basis, through the offices of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, so certainly you should follow activities through that organisation.
Most of the current work relates to the building of trans continental infrastructure projects - Oil and Gas Pipelines, Super Highways, Railways, Power and Water. You can follow progress through regular review of the Chinese Media.
Good luck, but do not expect to see any big picture in any short time frame.
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