Chinese security interests and US ballistic missile defenses
By: Ronald G. Jacobson
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 95
Description: The People's Republic of China (PRC) has undertaken extensive military modernization efforts in the post-Cold War period. Many of these efforts are directed at curbing what the Chinese consider unchecked US influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Continuing efforts by the United States to develop and deploy ballistic missile defenses (BMD) threaten to undermine the PRC's sole overseas power projection instrument, ballistic missiles, leaving Beijing with a seriously weakened repertoire for coercion and undermining Beijing's long-term goal of acquiring the ability to counter US influence. This thesis examines China's national security interests in the near future and the ballistic missile defense capabilities being pursued by the United States. It then analyzes the implications of the potential competition between US BMD and Chinese ballistic missiles for Sino-American security relations.
Notes: "December 1998."

Thesis advisor(s): David S. Yost, Denny Roy.

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs) Naval Postgraduate School, December 1998.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-94)

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.

US Navy (USN) author.

dk/dk cc:9116 02/03/99