Features of China's “Active Defense” Military Strategy in the Era of Xi Jinping

The article analyzes the evolution and modern interpretation of the strategic concept of "active defense" in the military policy of the People's Republic of China during the reign of Xi Jinping. The purpose of the study is to clarify the content and practical application of this strategy in the context of the changing global military-political situation, technological progress and internal institutional transformations in China's military organization. The object of the analysis is the military strategy of the PRC, and the subject is the transformation of its doctrinal attitudes, organizational and managerial structures and approaches to the operational use of the armed forces. The author consistently examines the historical development of the concept of "active defense" — from Maoist ideas about guerrilla warfare to a strategy focused on warfare in the conditions and informatization of the 21st century. The scientific significance of the work lies in the comprehensive coverage of the PLA reforms and their impact on the image of the Chinese armed forces. The article examines in detail institutional changes, the course towards interspecific integration, the expansion of the geography of the use of force, as well as strengthening strategic deterrence through the development of cyber and space capabilities. As a result of the research, the author comes to the conclusion that "active defense" retains its conceptual foundation as a strategy of deterrence and defense, but in practice it becomes a flexible tool combining political moderation with readiness for proactive offensive actions. The strategy is adapting to new conditions and continues to serve as the most important conceptual framework for Chinese military policy in the era of China's growing global ambitions.

China, PLA, active defense, China's military strategy, PLA reforms, Xi Jinping, strategic deterrence