China’s Defence industries development in the 21st century and its impact on Asia Pacific security

This study was carried out to examine the development of China’s defence industry from 1997 to 2022 and the security impact on Asia Pacific. This study argues that China’s open door policy has succeeded in developing economic, social and external relations that were previously damaged by the cultural revolution. The policy shift has led to a military modernization program that has encouraged the development of defence industries in an effort to provide high-tech equipment and weaponry to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The series of achievement by China’s defence industries has now created concern among the regional countries in the Asia Pacific region in particular, the military action that will be taken, if the matters related to disputes over territorial and maritime rights and interest in South China Sea including the Taiwan issue are not addressed accordingly. This study has three objectives. First, identify the catalyst factors for the development of China’s defense industries. Second, identify China’s approach of integrating civilians and the military in the development of defence industry. While, the final objective is to identify the security impact on the Asia Pacific regarding to the China’s defence industries achievements. In order to identify the probability of security impact in the Asia Pacific, this study had identified the main driving factors that triggered the military modernization program of the People’s Liberation Army. Using a qualitative approach, the study uses secondary data that found in electronic media and printed documents. Basically, there are several findings from this study that can be summarized. First, China as a communist country, either their peoples or the appointed government strongly adhere to the constitutions. The continuousness of theory, thought and direction from each previous president, has been guide of action to execute the national development plan especially the defence industry to develop better. Second, China made the military modernization program of the People’s Liberation Army as dual function development plan in an effort to ensure China’s sovereignty and security are preserved. This dual functions development plan encourages new exploration in science and technology, expansion to the manufacturing industry, encourages for international company joint ventures for technology transfer and policies setting to dual function construction industry, that could be utilized during peace and conflict as one of China's military facility area. While the last finding, was the rise of China as a world power today is driven by world geopolitical factors, where the United States of America had dominated, in addition to the reunification issue of Taiwan. Based to the study and evaluation of the secondary data obtained, the peace and security in Asia Pacific will be affected if there is a tension between China and United States of America, which currently exists as “strategic threat”. In fact, the military actions of United States of America and its allies in Gulf War, is one of the triggers for the military modernization program of the People’s Liberation Army to compete, has led to the China’s defence industry development to this day.
Keywords: Defense industries, development approach, regional concerns and security impact