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The leaked documents were published by the Central Military Commission in February for the purpose of spreading President Xi Jinping’s “thought on strengthening the armed forces”. If the reforms go ahead, they will lead to heightened tensions with China’s neighbouring countries, including Japan, in the East and South China Seas and the US. The documents read: “As we open up and expand our national interests beyond borders, we desperately need a comprehensive protection of our own security around the globe.” The report adds a military expansion will allow China to “more effectively create a situation, manage a crisis, contain a conflict, win a war, defend the expansion of our country’s strategic interests in an all-round fashion and realise the goals set by the party and Chairman Xi”.

It also makes clear from the start that the People’s Liberation Army is in line with the “core” leader Xi Jinping and agrees and adheres to his thought on socialism for a new era. According to Newsweek, the authors argue a “strong military might is important for a country to grow from being big to being strong,” indicating that the US, Russia and Japan are the example of it. The document gives particular importance to avoiding the Thucydides Trap, which is when a rising power comes into conflict with a more established enemy. The report said a strong military is the best way to “escape the obsession that war is unavoidable between an emerging power and a ruling hegemony".

Discover the disputed islands of the South China Sea Wed, May 10, 2017 Among the islands at the heart of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 6 Subi Reef at Spratly Islands: Subi Reef has transformed from a single building and cranes on an artificial sand bank to what looks look a forward operating base with its own town.

A direct confrontation with the US is referred to as “a slower vehicle on a curve", which means it is in decline but it also claims the aim of the reforms is to surpass the American military might. The documents were leaked as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy launched two advanced warships designed for surface warfare, long-range air defence and anti-submarine operations, as the country's naval modernisation continues. In May, the United States raised concerns with China about its latest militarisation of the South China Sea and claimed there will be short-term and long-term consequences.

In the disputed South China Sea, China has built up its presence on the islands more than any other country in the area, installing air bases, radar systems, and defence capabilities. It has also emerged the country has been recently testing radar cross-sections (RCS) for new fighter jets. A RCS index can measure how detectable an object is by radar and can be used in ballistic missiles.

China has built up its presence on the islands more than any other country in the South China Sea

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Liaoning on a training mission

China is supposedly testing such features on its aircrafts, destroyers, tanks and submarines.. Only the US, Russia and a few European countries can conduct such testing. When US defence secretary Jim Mattis visited China, President Xi Jinping told him that Beijing would not yield “one inch” of the South China Sea.