Keeping an Eye on the Long Game: Part LXIX

A nation will often give hints to others how they see their national security requirements by what they talk about. They will clearly signal what they feel they will or will not need by the kit they buy.

Along those future looking plans that other nations have now, what are the Chinese telling us they think they will need in the future? 

China plans to increase the size of its marine corps from about 20,000 to 100,000 personnel to protect the nation’s maritime lifelines and its growing interests overseas, military insiders and experts have said.

Some members would be stationed at ports China operates in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and Gwadar in southwest Pakistan, they said.

The expanded corps is part of a wider push to refocus the world’s largest army away from winning a land war based on sheer numbers and towards meeting a range of security scenarios using highly specialised units. Towards that end, Chinese President Xi Jinping is reducing the size of the People’s Liberation Army by 300,000, with nearly all of the cuts coming from the land forces.

Oh, and then there's this;

China has started building a new generation of large amphibious assault vessels that will strengthen the navy as it plays a more dominant role in projecting the nation’s power overseas, military sources said.

The 075 Landing Helicopter Dock is now under construction by a Shanghai-based shipbuilding company, the sources said.

Yes kiddies, you are seeing that right. In looks and size, that is pretty much a WASP Class LHD.

You only need a hundred-thousand marines and large deck amphibs if you intend to be a global power with the ability to project land power ashore wherever you need to. 

Also quite helpful to take Taiwan ...