The Chinese Self -Evaluation of Strategic and Defense Power in the 21st Century

Evaluation of the Chinese defense power and strategy based on the Defense Document of 2008 and from the view point of this country's decision makers and strategists illustrates the relationship between variables like conceptual and concrete security and necessity of revision in the factors of defense power to manage the changing environment at national and supra-national levels. Based on this document, modernization and mechanization of the Chinese army require employment of science, industry and technology in the military. These are important in assessment of the ability to research and development and production. Within this framework, the Chinese strategists are emphasizing the inter-linkages and interaction between military and economic aspects and also the necessity in creating a balance between them. As the Chinese grand strategy is defined within a peaceful development framework, realization of this strategy requires, achieving regional and internal prestige through confidence building; this aspect is one of the main features of strategic Power of the countries. The Chinese partnership in the international trends is an instance of this feature.