Citing a publication released by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force Command College in Nov. 2014, a Want China Times report revealed that China intends to develop new strategic weapons against the U.S., Japan, India and Vietnam.
The PLA report underlines the importance of setting up an air force that can wrest airspace control in the Western Pacific and conduct reconnaissance operations and precision strikes.
The development of advanced weaponry, such as long-range stealth bombers and anti-ballistic missile systems, is one of the things that China needs, according to the PLA.
With various stakeholders and claimants conducting military exercises in the South China Sea, the PLA is conceptualizing a strategy that would effectively project its presence in the disputed area.
It admitted that the U.S., along with Japan, India and Vietnam, is a potential challenger to China.
Observers see this as an effort by China to assert its influence and to flex its military muscle, not only in the region, but also on a global scale.
Earlier in March, Beijing announced a boost in its defense spending by 10.1 percent, which alarmed Southeast Asian neighbors and major stakeholders in the territorial dispute.
Overall, China's military spending has incurred large annual increases and the government has said that such expenditures are essential for the modernizing of equipment and improving conditions for the soldiers in the army.
A report by the Huffington Post stated that the last 15 years has witnessed spending increases as high as 17.7 percent annually, with a steady decline since the 2008-2009 financial crisis.