China's Naval Build-Up: Causes and Consequences

Perhaps China will be the world's biggest economy in the next two decades thus becoming a real superpower. The study is giving answers to the question why Beijing is building up its armed forces in a comprehensive manner. Which motives are underlying this modernization? Does Beijing try to achieve the hegemony in the Asia Pacific region? Dr. Thomas Wiegand is a lecturer and researcher specialized in Asian Pacific security affairs and energy policy. He is working for several academic and research institutions in Germany.