In his new book, People's Liberation Army Senior Colonel Liu Mingfu urges China to build the world's strongest army and overtake the United States as "global champion." The book, titled The China Dream, states that as long as China strives to become a greater power, the United States will stay determined to contain it. Liu also states that China's inevitable ascent into power will startle Washington, and could possibly initiate a war. The China Dream's publication falls before the release of the Chinese national defense budget, which Liu says should send the United States a message. Other PLA officers have been quoted as to saying that war is inevitable between the two countries, and that the rivalry between the United States and China will only grow deeper as China grows economically.
This article reminded me a lot of the Mearsheimer readings we did towards the beginning of the semester and our consequential discussions on hegemony and power politics. Mearsheimer cites that the ultimate goal in international politics is to be the hegemon, a goal that it seems Liu is proposing in his call for China to become a military superpower. Offensive realism is also present in the situation, since Liu states that China must act more aggressively if they wish to become a global power. The article itself details the very realist standpoints of various PLA officers, who admit that war between the United States and China is inevitable. Also, the threat of China's new defense budget could be seen as a means of implementing fear into the US government. Since the US's decision to sell Taiwan $6.4 billion worth of weapons, the United States has every reason to be nervous and suspicious of China. The article does state, however, that Liu's views are independent of the state, and that China wishes to maintain amicable relations with the United States.
This seems to be a classic example of fear-driven power politics, where the players are uncertain of the others' intentions. The book would make it seem that China is trying to interact internationally in a realist way. They may soon have the strongest economy in the world, and they already have the largest population; these are what Mearsheimer would refer to as potential military power. China has the potential to stockpile large amounts of weapons and create an enormous army...if it wants to. Does China really want to be the world's greatest power and inherit all of the problems and responsibilities that come with that title? I do not think so. The US is seen as the greatest power now, and they have so many responsibilities in humanitarian and peacekeeping affairs. If there is a problem in the world, in one sense, the US has to do something about it. I believe that China will be content to simply be an economic power, but will not convert its funds into military power. This is definitely not the action that a realist would take; it would rather be more liberal. China is doing well by engaging in trade with the world's most powerful countries. Why would they endanger profitable trade relations with the US to go to war?
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