How China’s defence law changes pave the way for greater global military influence
- By providing legal support for future overseas adventurism, the law underlines Beijing’s intent to be a more activist military power and expands the reasons it might project its power abroad – a change that could shake up global politics
Just as much of the world celebrated the dawning of 2021 and bade good riddance to the much-maligned 2020, China quietly updated key legislation that could change world events.
By providing legal support for China’s future overseas adventurism, the law both underlines Beijing’s intent to be a more activist military power and expands the reasons it might project its power overseas. As such, the little-reported amended law might be the most significant event in global politics for years.
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The growth of Chinese military power over the past four decades
Of course, there has been little doubt that it is the party organs, and the general secretary in particular, that make decisions over military deployments, mobilisation and utilisation. Nevertheless, these amendments now add de jure confirmation of the minimal role played by the state.
Now, with the addition of just three words, this description has expanded to incorporate far more expansive activities.
This is a substantial legal change and reflects long-term trends in China’s military capabilities and defence posture. From the creation of the modern state in 1949, Beijing was primarily worried about protection of the country’s territory and unity from foreign powers.
Now, the new defence law theoretically enables China to deploy overseas in support of its economic interests. Given the country’s stellar growth during the past four decades and substantial increase in overseas investments as part of its “go out” policy since the turn of the century, these interests are varied and global.
The People’s Liberation Army could be deployed to a South Pacific island state that has descended into ungoverned unrest to secure mining interests and Chinese citizens.
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With the ability to transport, protect and deploy forces overseas, including into hostile environments, Beijing now has a broader array of options for overseas military operations, from evacuations to deterrence, stabilisation and even contested landings.
This is not to say that China is about to become a global policeman in the guise of the United States. China has been a security free-rider for decades, with its last major military conflict being more than 40 years ago in 1979. It is unlikely to end the benefits of this situation in the short term.
The new defence law certainly suggests a greater willingness to deploy overseas in support of a wider range of missions, though. The post-Cold-War era of just a single superpower willing and able to deploy its military far from its shores might have just ended as the new year began.
Christian Le Miere is a foreign policy adviser and founder of Arcipel, a strategic consultancy