The Views of Chinese Military Analysts on the Strategic Aspects of Deterrence

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of interpreting China's deterrence strategy in the context of global competition, primarily with the United States. The author examines the key features of the Chinese theorists' approach, which differs from the Western concept of deterrence. Unlike the traditional Western understanding, which focuses on dissuading the enemy from aggression, the Chinese strategy includes deterrence and coercion, considering them as interrelated elements. The paper examines in detail the approaches of Chinese authors on three main types of deterrence: nuclear, space and information. At the same time, the author notes that these types are interconnected with each other — the nuclear potential serves as the basis for a retaliatory strike, while the remaining elements provide strategic flexibility. Special attention is paid to the approaches of Chinese theorists to the importance of strategic weapons, cyber and space countermeasures, as well as the integration of military and non-military instruments into a single system of influence. The article examines the evolution of Chinese military doctrine, including the change in approaches after the reforms of the PLA in 2015. The author concludes that China's deterrence strategy is aimed not only at preventing conflict, but also at achieving specific political goals, which makes it a flexible instrument of international policy. For China, deterrence is not an end in itself, but a dynamic process combining a show of force, manipulation of an opponent's perception, and adaptation to changing threats, which allows for flexible influence on the international situation in the interests of national policy. In the context of the global redistribution of forces, the concept of deterrence, which has been formed in the scientific and military discourse of the PRC, plays a key role in ensuring China's national security, as well as has a constructive impact on international stability.

China's foreign policy, PLA, China's military potential, deterrence strategy, nuclear weapons, space rivalry, cyberspace, strategic competition between the United States and China