Part 2/10:
Central to China's defense strategy is the advancement of its sovereignty, security, and developmental interests. The country has shown a propensity to employ military coercion to fulfill its strategic goals, which has raised concerns in Washington. The PLA has not only been modernizing but aims to establish a fully integrated joint force capable of operating across multiple domains: land, air, sea, nuclear, space, electronic warfare, and cyberspace. This is indicative of China's ambitions to extend its power projection beyond its borders, effectively altering the regional balance of power.