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"Over the past two decades, China's People's Liberation Army has transformed itself from a large but antiquated force into a capable, modern military. Its technology and operational proficiency still lag behind those of the United States, but it has rapidly narrowed the gap. Moreover, China enjoys the advantage of proximity in most plausible conflict scenarios, and geographical advantage would likely neutralize many U.S. military strengths. A sound understanding of regional military issues -- including forces, geography, and the evolving balance of power -- will be essential for establishing appropriate U.S. political and military policies in Asia. This RAND study analyzes the development of respective Chinese and U.S. military capabilities in ten categories of military operations across two scenarios, one centered on Taiwan and one on the Spratly Islands. The analysis is presented in ten scorecards that assess military capabilities as they have evolved over four snapshot years: 1996, 2003, 2010, and 2017. The results show that China is not close to catching up to the United States in terms of aggregate capabilities, but also that it does not need to catch up to challenge the United States on its immediate periphery. Furthermore, although China's ability to project power to more distant locations remains limited, its reach is growing, and in the future U.S. military dominance is likely to be challenged at greater distances from China's coast. To maintain robust defense and deterrence capabilities in an era of fiscal constraints, the United States will need to ensure that its own operational concepts, procurement, and diplomacy anticipate future developments in Chinese military capabilities."--Back cover

National security --- China --- United States --- Spratly Islands --- Taiwan --- Strategic aspects. --- Military policy. --- Armed Forces. --- Homeland defense --- Homeland security --- Taiwan Sheng zheng fu --- Tʻai-wan sheng cheng fu --- Taiwan xing zheng zhang guan gong shu --- Tʻai-wan hsing cheng chang kuan kung shu --- Taiwan Sheng xing zheng zhang guan gong shu --- Tʻai-wan sheng hsing cheng chang kuan kung shu --- Tʻai-wan --- Taĭvan --- Formosa --- Taiwan Sōtokufu --- Government-General of Taiwan --- Taiwan sheng --- Tʻai-wan sheng --- Taiwan Provincial Government --- Taiwan zong du fu --- Tʻai-wan tsung tu fu --- Xiaoliuqiu --- 臺灣 --- 台灣 --- Тайвань --- Tajvan --- Тайуан --- Taĭuan --- Tayiwani --- Taywan --- Taivanas --- Taiwana --- Taihuan --- Тайван --- Dangerous Ground (Spratly Islands) --- Dao Truong Sa --- Kalayaan Islands --- Nan-Sha Chu̕n-Tao --- Nansha Islands --- Nansha Qundao --- Quan Dao Trò̕n̕g Sa --- Shinnan Islands --- Spratlys --- Trò̕n̕g Sa, Quan Dao --- Truong Sa --- Cina --- Kinë --- Cathay --- Chinese National Government --- Chung-kuo kuo min cheng fu --- Republic of China (1912-1949) --- Kuo min cheng fu (China : 1912-1949) --- Chung-hua min kuo (1912-1949) --- Kina (China) --- National Government (1912-1949) --- China (Republic : 1912-1949) --- People's Republic of China --- Chinese People's Republic --- Chung-hua jen min kung ho kuo --- Central People's Government of Communist China --- Chung yang jen min cheng fu --- Chung-hua chung yang jen min kung ho kuo --- Central Government of the People's Republic of China --- Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo --- Zhong hua ren min gong he guo --- Kitaĭskai︠a︡ Narodnai︠a︡ Respublika --- Činská lidová republika --- RRT --- Republik Rakjat Tiongkok --- KNR --- Kytaĭsʹka Narodna Respublika --- Jumhūriyat al-Ṣīn al-Shaʻbīyah --- RRC --- Kitaĭ --- Kínai Népköztársaság --- Chūka Jinmin Kyōwakoku --- Erets Sin --- Sin --- Sāthāranarat Prachāchon Čhīn --- P.R. China --- PR China --- Chung-kuo --- Zhongguo --- Zhonghuaminguo (1912-1949) --- Zhong guo --- Chine --- République Populaire de Chine --- República Popular China --- Catay --- VR China --- VRChina --- 中國 --- Jhongguó --- Bu̇gu̇de Nayiramdaxu Dundadu Arad Ulus --- Bu̇gu̇de Nayiramdaqu Dumdadu Arad Ulus --- Bu̇gd Naĭramdakh Dundad Ard Uls --- Khi︠a︡tad --- Kitad --- Dumdadu Ulus --- Dumdad Uls --- Думдад Улс --- Kitajska --- 中国 --- 中华人民共和国 --- Islands of the South China Sea --- China (Republic : 1949- ) --- PRC --- P.R.C. --- BNKhAU --- БНХАУ --- military balance