Oriana Skylar Mastro | The Washington Quarterly
China’s approach to wartime diplomacy, escalation, and mediation all play roles in determining how a hypothetical conflict would unfold in East Asia and what the US role in restoring peace and stability should be. In its three major conflicts since the Cold War began, China has demonstrated a preference only to talk to weaker states, rapidly escalate any conflict to quickly impose peace, and use third parties to pressure its adversaries to concede.
By Lorenzo Termine, RealClearDefense: “The NPR points that while the U.S. was seeking a smaller, less dangerous and less powerful atomic stockpile, the PRC moved in the opposite direction, increasing and modernizing its own.”
Fewer Checks, More Balancing:
How Xi Jinping’s Consolidation of Power Changes the Risk of War
By Stephan Pikner, Strategy Bridge: “Since modern China has always been led by a highly authoritarian regime, is the shift from consensus-based decision making by Party elites to a more personalist style of rule merely a distinction without a difference? Does the consolidation of power under President Xi matter, particularly to issues of war and peace?”
South China Sea: The Philippine Fissure
By Jay Batongbacal, the interpreter: “A new normal is evident in the South China Sea disputes. Last week, Philippine Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana revealed that China continues to exchange radio challenges and responses with Philippine aircraft patrols and resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea. ”