China Is Not Ready To Confront The U.S. On A Global Battlefront

The Chinese Navy replenishment ship Qinghaihu in front of the frigates Hengshan (rear L) and Huangshan (rear R) in Valletta’s Grand Harbor, March 26, 2013. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi

David Axe, Reuters: Why China is far from ready to meet the U.S. on a global battlefront

Both of these statements are true:

1) China possesses a rapidly improving military that, in certain local or regional engagements, could match — and even defeat — U.S. forces in battle.

2) In military terms, China is a paper dragon that, despite its apparent strength, is powerless to intervene in world events far from its shores.

Seeing the distinction between these two ideas is the key to understanding China’s strategic aims, its military means and the threat, if any, that the country poses to its neighbors, the United States and the existing world order.

WNU Editor: I agree with David Axe. Since the Second World War the U.S. has not only built up a huge military but it has also built up a military network of alliances, bases, understandings, and agreements that have a global reach. The Chinese are only now starting to build up their military, and their military agreements/alliances with other countries are minimal at best .... and definitely lacking in Asia. China is .... at best .... Asia's rising superpower .... but as to it global aspirations .... they still have a long way to go.