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The PLA at Home and Abroad - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

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their measures to improve the situ<strong>at</strong>ion in the<br />

western regions.<br />

• <strong>The</strong> severe winter storm <strong>and</strong> earthquake in 2008<br />

showed the Chinese government th<strong>at</strong> internal<br />

n<strong>at</strong>ural disasters could be just as destructive as<br />

external security thre<strong>at</strong>s for a n<strong>at</strong>ion racing to<br />

become rich. <strong>The</strong> call for the <strong>PLA</strong> to take on the<br />

n<strong>at</strong>ion’s “diverse military tasks” <strong>and</strong> “military<br />

oper<strong>at</strong>ions other than war” (多样化和非战争任<br />

务和行动) got the full <strong>at</strong>tention of the CCP <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>PLA</strong> senior leadership. <strong>The</strong> <strong>PLA</strong> was tested<br />

during those disaster relief oper<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />

• <strong>The</strong> ongoing, <strong>and</strong> <strong>at</strong> times escal<strong>at</strong>ing, conflicts<br />

with Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, <strong>and</strong> Malaysia<br />

over disputed isl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> maritime territorial<br />

interests in the East <strong>and</strong> South China<br />

Seas in the last 2 years had gener<strong>at</strong>ed an outcry<br />

in China <strong>and</strong> much pressure on the Chinese<br />

government <strong>and</strong> the <strong>PLA</strong> to take more forceful<br />

measures to secure those “stolen” territories. 1<br />

<strong>The</strong> loudest of the Chinese people’s calls for<br />

action were those dem<strong>and</strong>ing the Chinese government<br />

acceler<strong>at</strong>e the construction of aircraft<br />

carrier b<strong>at</strong>tle groups <strong>and</strong> to modify China’s<br />

policy of “shelving the disputes while pursuing<br />

joint development of ocean interests” (搁置<br />

争议, 共同开发海洋资源).<br />

• <strong>The</strong> Somali pir<strong>at</strong>e <strong>at</strong>tacks on Chinese merchant<br />

vessels reaffirmed Chinese concerns th<strong>at</strong> their<br />

exp<strong>and</strong>ing n<strong>at</strong>ional interests were <strong>at</strong> stake. Although<br />

the <strong>PLA</strong>N took prompt action to set up<br />

escort oper<strong>at</strong>ions in the Gulf of Aden <strong>and</strong> hence<br />

started the first-ever <strong>PLA</strong> overseas comb<strong>at</strong> op-<br />

4

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