On January 15, 2015, in Beijing, China’s major think tank issued "The (2015) Assessment Report on China Perimeter Security Situation — ‘One Belt and One Road (OBAOR)’ and the Perimeter Security Strategy." ["One Belt and One Road" is the short form for "silk road economic belt" and "the 21th century maritime silk road."] The report said that China’s ability and will to lead and shape its perimeter have significantly increased. China’s grand strategy for its perimeter security will soon be ready— implementing a dual policy (the economic strategy of advancing OBAOR and the security strategy of controlling maritime issues) as China’s core strategy.
The Center for Regional Security Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy of CASS, and the Social Sciences Documentation Publishing House jointly issued the report.
The report summarized a number of the characteristics of the significant relations between major powers that, in 2014, affected the security of China’s perimeter. First, the competitive side of Sino-U.S. relations became more prominent. Second, Sino-Japanese relations continued in the "Ice Age." The structural contradictions will be difficult to solve in the short-term. Third, Russia was forced to turn to the Asian Pacific, accelerating its strategic coordination and cooperation with China. Fourth, India implemented the two-track policy of economic cooperation and strategic balance with China. Cooperation between China and India is stable but limited in scope.
The report noted that "One Belt and One Road," as China’s grand foreign strategy, has graduated from the proposal stage to the action stage. The report expressed the belief that 2015 will be critical to the advancement of the "One Belt and One Road" strategy.
In 2015, China’s perimeter security situation is facing at least three major challenges: First is the U.S.-Japan alliance’s strategic squeeze on China’s rise; second is the control of maritime safety and the development of a new maritime order; third is the promotion of the "One Belt and One Road" strategy and dealing with relevant external pressures.
Source: Xinhua, January 15, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-01/15/c_1114007891.htm