The 18th Party Congress in November 2012 produced new leadership for China, but it did not produce much optimism for the future of China’s relationship with its East Asian neighbors or the United States.

Chinese President Xi Jinping frequently refers to the “Chinese Dream,” or “the great resurgence of the Chinese nation.” Coinciding with this, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) goal of building up modernized forces has shifted to the simpler but more comprehensive and forceful aim of “being capable of fighting, and fighting victoriously.”

There have also been extraordinarily frequent official reports of breakthroughs in China’s military buildup, including advanced weaponry, military technology, and the increasing capability of the PLA’s combat readiness.