China's Maritime Strategy in the East China Sea: Peaceful Coexistence Deterrence, and Active Defense

The Wilson Center hosts a discussion in which Dr. Liselotte Odgaard and Mr. Dennis J. Blasko will examine China's objectives and strategy in the East China Sea from the perspective of the PRC's long-standing official foreign and defense policies

Liselotte Odgaard // Fellow
Associate Professor, Institute for Strategy, Royal Danish Defence College, Copenhagen, Denmark

Dennis J. Blasko
Former United States Army Attaché to China

In September 2012, the Chinese-Japanese sovereignty dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands in the East China Sea reignited when the Japanese government purchased three disputed islands from a private Japanese citizen who claimed to be their owner. Chinese government ships have since increased patrolling of what Japan claims to be its territorial waters around the Diaoyu/Senkakus, expanding China’s maritime law enforcement and military presence in the region. Former Wilson Center Fellow, Dr. Liselotte Odgaard and Mr. Dennis J. Blasko will examine China’s objectives and strategy in the East China Sea from the perspective of the PRC's long-standing official foreign and defense policies and assess to what extent their actions contribute to escalation and the prospects of the use of deadly force.

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