evidence: As the PRCâs overseas economic and security interests expand under its One Belt One Road initiative (BRI or OBOR), it seeks to expand its overseas military footprint to protect those interests.Â Specifically, the PRC seeks to establish global logistics and basing infrastructure to allow the Peopleâs Liberation Army (PLA) to project and sustain military power at greater distances.Â It abuses commercial arrangements at host country ports to support military functions and hides the true purpose of its installations overseas.Â For example, PRC officials stated for many years that China would never seek overseas basesâup until they officially opened a base in Djibouti in 2017.Â The PRC refers to its base in Djibouti as a logistics facility, even though PLA Navy Marines are stationed there equipped with armored vehicles and artillery. [...] Since May 2020, PRC and Indian troops have clashed at several locations along the Sino-Indian border.Â The PRC instigated this crisis by seizing disputed territory on the Indian border.Â Therefore, the onus for resolving the crisis is on the PRC to de-escalate tensions by withdrawing its military forces to pre-May positions. [...] The Peopleâs Republic of China: Many Neighbors, Many Disputes share america | august 5, 2020