Congressional Report: China is expanding military to project global power

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A major congressional report has concluded that China is fast expanding its military such that in the next 10 years it will be capable of prosecuting wars in distant countries around the world, the Washington Times reports. In its annual report published Tuesday, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission concluded that the Chinese government is working to turn the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into “a global expeditionary force in a matter of decades.”

The commission explained in its report that the Chinese military has advanced its missiles, bombers, transport aircraft, at-sea replenishment, and logistics in a manner that “significantly improved the PLA’s ability to project power and deploy expeditionary forces far from China‘s shores,” the Washington Times said.

“China‘s power projection capabilities are developing at a brisk and consistent pace, reflecting the civilian leadership’s determination to transform the PLA into a global expeditionary force in a matter of decades,” the report says. “By mid-century, the PLA aims to be capable of rapidly deploying forces anywhere in the world.”

In a statement to media following publication of the report, co-chair of the commission Carolyn Bartholomew said that, while China is most powerful in East and Southeast Asia, the giant country has set its sights on the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, and South America as well, the Washington Times reports.

Bartholomew further noted that “China‘s leaders have grown increasingly aggressive and antagonistic.” She added: “Within the next 10 to 15 years, Chinese leaders aim to be capable of fighting a limited war overseas to protect its interests in countries participating in China‘s Belt and Road Initiative.”

Latest Worthy News