Member’s question time: Can the People’s Liberation Army support China’s international ambitions?
25
February 2025 — 1:00PM TO 1:45PM
Anonymous (not verified)
22 January 2025
Online
Join Senior Research Fellow, Dr William Matthews, who will provide an assessment of the current capabilities of the PLA, ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region and relations with the US.
Join Senior Research Fellow Dr William Matthews, who will provide an assessment of the current capabilities of the PLA, ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region and relations with the US.
As China’s global influence grows, so too does the power of its military. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years, modernizing its technology, increasing its strategic reach, and evolving in response to both domestic and international pressures.
Increasing naval power, new missile systems, cyber warfare capabilities, and advancements in space and artificial intelligence are all areas in which the PLA has looked to gain a global advantage. Defence spending has steadily risen as President Xi Jinping looks challenge America’s military dominance. But how does the PLA’s expanding capabilities align with China’s broader foreign policy goals?
Is China’s mighty military able to meet China’s foreign policy objectives? Whether securing territorial claims in the South China Sea, asserting its role in regional and global security, challenging U.S. dominance in the Indo-Pacific, or realising action on Taiwan, China will need a force fit for 21st century combat. The war in Ukraine has exposed lessons that Beijing, like other global powers, will be keen to learn from.
Join Dr William Matthews, Senior Research Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, who will lead an overview of the PLA’s evolvement, and answers questions on its role in China’s geopolitical future.
Submit your questions to the experts in advance of the event. Your questions drive the conversation.
The institute occupies a position of respect and trust, and is committed to fostering inclusive dialogue at all events. Event attendees are expected to uphold this by adhering to our code of conduct.
Source: Chathamhouse Events