132. Charles

Of course part of the reason too is that everyone can see that China is in a fast development period akin to the development period of the Japanese in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
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A corollary of this is the question as to whether the PLA will be like the Japanese military. The Japanese military was at one point a competing element of the Japanese government after the Meji Restoration. Later it became dominant in the Japanese government.

Currently the PLA is a competing element in the Chinese government. Its unknown as to whether the PLA will become dominant in the Chinese government. What has become clear to everyone in the theatre is that as the PLA’s power has grown –so too has its ambition.

Beyond North Korea and Taiwan, I think that PLA’s thinking currently revolves around supplying oil to China in time of war–which they cannot now insure–because of Singapore, the nearby straights, and the military systems and alliances that Singapore maintains.

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That last sentence –could as easily be phrased ……Beyond North Korea and Taiwan, I think that PLA’s thinking currently revolves around supplying oil to China in time of war–which they cannot now insure– because of the USA, the Strait of Malacca, and the military systems and alliances that the USA maintains…

Singapore’s concern is that the tide is currently running against the USA. (this will change. Singapore is a weather vane.)

Having made the discussion of Chinese oil security…what would be the strategic implications if both the Chinese and the USA one day became energy independent?

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