This week in my Chinese Politics class we discussed the military conflicts in Central Asia. I provided two links to reports on what is happening in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan below. I also added my reaction to the recent events and the PLA’s take on becoming involved.
http://chinageeks.org/2010/06/discussion-section-should-china-send-troops-to-kyrgyzstan/
http://chinageeks.org/2009/12/china-america-and-afghanistan/
The deployment of Chinese troops to Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, is considered a fantasy in some realms, but has recently become more of a reality than we would like to think. Although China claims to have never invaded a foreign country as the People’s Liberation Army it continues to stay clear of the conflicts happening by its side refusing to assist “invaders.” The “invader” China speaks of is the United States, but this jeer is as ridiculous as believing China has never invaded another foreign country, may we recall the Seventeen Point Agreement? As far as United States military interests are concerned China’s involvement in Central Asia will not result in Chinese and America troops fighting side-by-side, but rather allow China to get its feet wet in international peacekeeping missions. After all, the area contains national as well as international interests for the Middle Kingdom.
One major interest is Central Asia’s energy resources and China’s unquenchable thirst for such fuels as it grows at an unprecedented rate. The second is controlling the troublemakers in the Xinjiang province. Afghanistan is a nearby safe-harbor for such delinquents and it would behoove the Chinese government to take interest in such
an area.
The last interest would be deploying and using their forces to allow the PLA to gain much needed experience in such missions. Currently, the PLA has an impressive number of troops; however, training and field experience are low. Working with foreign militaries in an area like Central Asia would serve as an indoctrination to live combat for many PLA soldiers and an invaluable experience for the PLA as a whole.
Some important factors to be considered within China consist of mobilization and sustenance of troops, public opinion of the occupation in a foreign country, and the ultimate gain for China. First, mobilization and resupply would be relatively easy due to the proximity of the conflict. The terrain of Afghanistan serve as the largest problem for military operations, but with China’s nearness resupply can be carried out more sinuously than other countries. Second, the public will see China as the “invader” it condemns, but with changing attitudes and a global presence the call for peace and stability by neutralizing terrorism could outweigh the accusations. Lastly, China has far more to gain than to lose. The natural resources of Central Asia make China’s industry open its eyes and pay attention to the potential power and growth that can come from such an area. Also the PLA could use an introduction to the international stage of peacekeeping and involvement in formal United Nation missions.
If the United States and China have much to learn from each other and, looking at it in an analogical way, both being prevailing world powers they might as well get to know each other because they will be sharing the stage for quite some time: economically, militarily, and socially.
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Jordan J. Foley傅力波
http://chinageeks.org/2010/06/discussion-section-should-china-send-troops-to-kyrgyzstan/
http://chinageeks.org/2009/12/china-america-and-afghanistan/
The deployment of Chinese troops to Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, is considered a fantasy in some realms, but has recently become more of a reality than we would like to think. Although China claims to have never invaded a foreign country as the People’s Liberation Army it continues to stay clear of the conflicts happening by its side refusing to assist “invaders.” The “invader” China speaks of is the United States, but this jeer is as ridiculous as believing China has never invaded another foreign country, may we recall the Seventeen Point Agreement? As far as United States military interests are concerned China’s involvement in Central Asia will not result in Chinese and America troops fighting side-by-side, but rather allow China to get its feet wet in international peacekeeping missions. After all, the area contains national as well as international interests for the Middle Kingdom.
One major interest is Central Asia’s energy resources and China’s unquenchable thirst for such fuels as it grows at an unprecedented rate. The second is controlling the troublemakers in the Xinjiang province. Afghanistan is a nearby safe-harbor for such delinquents and it would behoove the Chinese government to take interest in such
an area.
The last interest would be deploying and using their forces to allow the PLA to gain much needed experience in such missions. Currently, the PLA has an impressive number of troops; however, training and field experience are low. Working with foreign militaries in an area like Central Asia would serve as an indoctrination to live combat for many PLA soldiers and an invaluable experience for the PLA as a whole.
Some important factors to be considered within China consist of mobilization and sustenance of troops, public opinion of the occupation in a foreign country, and the ultimate gain for China. First, mobilization and resupply would be relatively easy due to the proximity of the conflict. The terrain of Afghanistan serve as the largest problem for military operations, but with China’s nearness resupply can be carried out more sinuously than other countries. Second, the public will see China as the “invader” it condemns, but with changing attitudes and a global presence the call for peace and stability by neutralizing terrorism could outweigh the accusations. Lastly, China has far more to gain than to lose. The natural resources of Central Asia make China’s industry open its eyes and pay attention to the potential power and growth that can come from such an area. Also the PLA could use an introduction to the international stage of peacekeeping and involvement in formal United Nation missions.
If the United States and China have much to learn from each other and, looking at it in an analogical way, both being prevailing world powers they might as well get to know each other because they will be sharing the stage for quite some time: economically, militarily, and socially.
--
Jordan J. Foley傅力波
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