CMSI Conference: Going Global? The People’s Navy in a Time of Strategic Transformation

The People's Liberation Army Navy is engaged in a “strategic transformation” from a regional navy to a force also capable of effective operations in other parts of the world. As critical as its “near seas” efforts are, China’s capacity to operate in the “far seas” beyond East Asia is much more significant for its influence in the broader world. Observers have paid great attention to the outward signs of this process: new ships and submarines, the country’s first overseas base, and new training and deployment patterns. However, there exists serious gaps in our knowledge about the strategic calculus guiding observed behavior: What ends do these capabilities serve?

About This Conference

This conference will address the interests, drivers and objectives that inform decisions about the roles and missions of Chinese sea power in areas beyond East Asia. Examining the key people, guiding concepts, and likely peacetime and wartime scenarios, we will assess the resulting trends and their implications for global maritime dynamics.