Steve, It appears that every time Beijing becomes upset over something or other, like the U.S. Energy Secretary's visit to Taiwan or the Dalai Lama in Washington, the entire communist machine (including the PLA) picks-up the banner. Witness not only the Spratlys but the recent crackdown on Protestant church-houses on the Mainland. Just a couple of the only means they have to express their dissatisfaction. If Beijing saw no need in tapping Taiwan's economy, they'd have probably plunked down a few missiles in the Straits by now.
What's worrisome from a U.S. military perspective is that recent activities in the Spratlys could become indicative of Beijing's power projection strategy. If they're permitted to pursue nationalistic ideals in international territory, they may decide to make policy of it.
Too, communist military doctrine includes a great deal of belligerence. (See the former Soviet Union.) That it also ties-in nicely with some of the PRC's exaggerated nationalistic notions may only be coincidence. Hard-line CCP elements would certainly agree with it...may even require it, which also makes it convenient for Jiang Zemin.
And for those who might question what business the U.S. has in the Western Pacific, I would ask them how they would contend with a more fervent type of Japanese nationalism and a newly constructed Nipponese military juggernaut.
We've all heard how the Chinese as a nation have never been expansionist or "outward-looking." (Funny, Lee Kuan Yew doesn't think so.) Will the PRC be Chinese who just happen to be communists, or will they be communists who just happen to be Chinese? At the moment I choose the latter.
BTW: The CinC of the U.S. Pacific Fleet is in Beijing. Nice that the PLA's navy saw fit to conduct an incident. Belligerent is the word alright. |
