The US-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) published an article (May 24) reporting that Shi Yinhong, Director of the Center for American Studies at the Renmin University's School of International Studies, enumerated "eight strategic goals of China" for the next 20 years. According to Shi Yinhong, China aims to upgrade its military and combat capabilities, achieve military dominance over the U.S. in the West Pacific region, establish "an indestructible strategic military existence" in the eastern Indian Ocean, and become a world leader in ideological influence. The article was first published by Duowei News. Shi Yinhong enumerated the following goals: 1. "Make China's GDP rank No. 1 in the world." 2. "Achieve upper-middle level in national income per capita." 3. "Upgrade military armed forces and combat power capabilities to among the top in the world." 4. "Attain high-tech R&D and application levels either to lead or to be among the leading countries in the world." 5. "Unify the country across the Taiwan Strait." 6. "Achieve military dominance, however marginal, over the U.S. in the western part of the West Pacific, not including Okinawa or Japan." 7. "Maintain an indestructible strategic military existence in the Eastern Indian Ocean: 'I mean not that China wants to dominate the Eastern Indian Ocean, but to maintain a basic strategic existence that's difficult to be harmed or destroyed.'" 8. Have 'top advantages' on the world diplomatic stage, in terms of prestige and ideological influence." "China's goal of 'improving Chinese people's lives' will impact relations on the world stage". Shi Yinhong explained that "Among the eight goals, the first two have much to do with China's own development, but the last two will inevitably create strategic interference and interactions with other countries and regions, including the U.S., Japan, Europe and India, and others."
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