“The evolution of PLAN’s strategy” and “Taiwan’s role in the breakout of the Taiwann Strait Crisis”

ASIA FORUM with Dr. Xiaoqin Shi and Ms. Lu Jinghua

 

“The evolution of PLAN’s strategy: From self-defense orientated to a more contributing player” and “Taiwan’s Role in the Breakout of the Taiwan Strait Crisis: A Historical Perspective“

 

Wednesday June 15, 2011 10:00 – 12:00

 

“The evolution of PLAN’s strategy: from self-defense orientated to a more contributing player”

PLAN (the People’s Liberation Army Navy) is undertaking a far-reaching transformation that will have a considerable impact on China itself as well as the rest of the world. This presentation will outline the evolution of PLAN’s strategy, i.e. where PLAN comes from and where it is heading. The lecturer will touch upon the following aspects: the role of the Navy in China’s grand strategy and national defense strategy; the Navy’s mindset when it comes to relations with the outside world; the structure of the fleet and the meaning it implies.

Xiaoqin Shi is a Research Fellow at the department of War Theory and Strategic Studies, Academy of Military Science, People’s Liberation Army, People’s Republic of China. She has been focusing on East Asian Security Issues since 1999, and has specialized in sea power theory, naval strategy and maritime security. Lt. Colonel Shi has published several articles, including: “The historical significance of flotilla and a balanced China fleet”, (Military History, 2011); “Synthetically Comprehend and Deal with the South China Sea Issue”, (Peace and Development, 2010); “Escorting and challenges facing PLAN”, (International and Strategic Review 2009), etc. Her monograph, The way of using Seapower in international politics and the Sino-U.S. Relations, is forthcoming. She is currently a guest researcher at ISDP.

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“Taiwan’s Role in the Breakout of the Taiwan Strait Crisis: A Historical Perspective”

Since 1949, when Kuomintang was forced to settle in Taiwan, there have been three serious Taiwan Strait Crises. It is well known that the Taiwan Strait Crisis is, in essence, a domestic crisis in a complicated international background. Therefore, the driving factors leading to its breakout are both domestic and international. It is also very important to examine Taiwan’s role in the breakout of the Taiwan Strait Crisis from a historical perspective. That is, the implications of the two Chiangs’ rules in Taiwan (Chiang Kai Shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo, 1949- 1988) for the Taiwan Strait Crises.

Examining the Two Chiang’s policies towards Mainland China, the Taiwan government’s knowledge about the Chinese Communist Party, and Kuomintang’s corrupt rule in Taiwan, we can see that the Two Chiang s’ rules in Taiwan is the root cause for the breakout of the Taiwan Strait Crises. However, everything has its positives and negatives. From an objective position, we must say that Taiwan government never sought independence from China Mainland when it was under the two Chinag’s rules. This is a very important factor to consider in order to avoid the separation of Taiwan from Mainland China and an extreme intensification of the Taiwan Strait Crisis.

Lu Jinghua is Lieutenant Colonel and an Assistant Research Fellow at the Academy of Military Science, People’s Liberation Army, People’s Republic of China. She is currently a guest researcher at ISDP.

Location: ISDP, Västra Finnbodavägen 2, Stockholm-Nacka. For a map and directions, please go here.

To attend: RSVP to Ms. Ebba Mårtensson at emartensson@isdp.eu