Chinese President Xi Jinping presents the heads of the National Defence University of the People's Liberation Army with the military flag in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
Cary Huang, South China Morning Post: China's military is stronger than ever, but is it strong enough?
The world’s second-largest military has the tools necessary to serve the geopolitical interests of Beijing, but critics say the People’s Liberation Army would still be outclassed in any real confrontation with the United States
Beijing will mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday with a strong message that China’s army today is vastly different from its humble origins, and is now more than capable of standing up to protect its country’s national sovereignty and interests.
The 2.3 million strong PLA, the world’s largest-standing force, was founded on August 1, 1927, in a Communist Party organised uprising. Since then it has transformed from a peasant army to a modernised fighting force, with the tools necessary to help make the Middle Kingdom a global maritime and space power.
As tensions continue to rise between China and the United States – which boasts the world’s largest military – some speculate that a conflict between the two powers may now be more likely than a US-Soviet confrontation during the cold-war period decades ago.
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WNU Editor: China has been pursuing a policy of becoming the world's economic/military/and political super-power by the end of this century. With these goals in mind .... China's military is nowhere near strong enough to meet these policy objectives. The proper question that should be asked is .... is it in China's interest to be such a superpower?
6 comments:
China problems are location, to the east is the ocean, to the it's south jungle then ocean, to the south west it's mountains to the west it's desert and steppe to the north it's trees and black fly and tundra, then Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, India and Russia but the 800 lb gorilla in the room is the US and I'm pretty sure they would back anyone of them in a fight with China, even Russia. But China's main problem is food and energy imports any disruption in food or energy imports and China will have major civil disorder. The propaganda they pump out makes China look like an invincible giant, but they have some major problems. One more problem China has and we in the West suffer from it as well, believing their own bull shit. How ever you look at it War with China won't be fun for anyone.
"Is it in China's interest to be such a superpower?" I'd say it depends.
America is considered a "superpower." Once we get past the military porn shown for public consumption, there's really not much there. There is a nuclear arsenal, however, given the age of it, the poor upkeep of it, the subpar training and leadership of the crews responsible for it candidate Trump was correct when asking if it even works. As such, the American "superpower" would be hard pressed to defend America much less do anything else. The best descriptions of America and it's military are "petomkin village", "paper tiger," or "joke." IF the nuclear arsenal actually works, a big IF, perhaps America really is a "superpower," at least militarily.
As for econimally, Canadians, Austrailans, South Koreans, Tawainese, British, French, Germans, and pretty much everyone else in Europe enjoys a lifestyle, opportunities for advancement, wealth, and healthcare that is WAY beyond what Americans dare hope for. As such, being a do called superpower has netted us NOTHING!! If China, can do better as a "superpower," perhaps they may want to pursue such a course of action.
As for America, perhaps its enemies who are to numerous to count decided to perpetuate the myth that America is not only powerful but some sort of superpower. If we overstate the power of an adversary, they are much easier to demonize. Unfortunately the idiots who lead America played right into their hands.
Perhaps if China can do better, being a "superpower" can be beneficial. As for America, "superpower' status has been ugly. We've watched our northern neighbors in Canada have lifestyles we can't even dare fathom and we are besieged by an invasion from our southern neighbor of Mexico whom we can't hope to match militarily.
"Superpower" status has not helped us. Maybe it will help China. As for America, we should ptobably do WHATEVER IT TAKES to be on good terms with Russia and China.
B. Poster,
Talk only about what you know. French are not as you say. I'm born in France and lived there more than half a century and I can tell you: you are 100% wrong.
I don't know for the other countries and you can be right, but verify your information's first.
In any case I respect your opinion.
I suggest you all read up on the various definitions of a super power. .GR&S is right in pointing out the unique advantages the United States has when it comes to location and being neighbours with friends. .eg Canada and Mexico. China however is surrounded by and unwisely created adversaries..think Japan. .think India...on top. .Chinas many adversaries are friends of America. There's currently no superpower like the US. China is #2.. Russia will never get from it's very generous number 3 spot.at least not in this century unless there's nuclear war..which actually looks more and more like it in this first half of this century
Also. ..the leadership in China is extremely dependent on tight information control. ..look at their efforts with the VPN bans just lately. ..it just shows their weakness
On top. .. rich and successful people don't want to live under Chinese leadership. . Not all of them, of course. .China has made a lot of progress..but. .look at people who tasted freedom and now have to live under Chinese rule. .Hong Kong is a living example of that and the party is afraid of resistance movements there...
3 years ago I was thinking of living in China. .I'm ivy league educated and somewhat successful. .. would I still go and live in China? No. .I don't think so. .they had opened up to the World. .they are closing up again.. the Internet crackdown is a no go for me. .so they'll loose millions of successful people not going to them and living in the west or other open countries instead... I really don't believe into the grand China strategy anymore .the last couple of years have shown too many mistakes and they are doubling down on it. ..no thanks
Also.. I think the Chinese party is creating a dangerous situation. ..they use their tight information control to push their party doctrine. That's fine and goods ..it's their country and I don't mind. .however. .Talk to any mainland Chinese and they are so nationalistic that no matter what you do with them. .party or going out for drinks. .in a few hours they'll be talking in hatred about Japan. .about the US etc. .this is so dangerous. .and the Internet crackdown in China will only accelerate this one sided view. ... I understand the historic issues with Japan. .but the hatred is being kept alive proactively by the government. It's not good and very dangerous if China closes up again. You'll have 1.5bn brainwashed people soon. .think North Korea is a problem? Think China twenty years down the road. .bullying business people and businesses. .bullying neighbours. .bullying free speech and human rights activists. ..supporting north Korea and enabling their weapons program. .this will not end well. .therfore I changed my view on China and cannot help but wonder if the Chinese leadership is really OK with all this just to stay on power. ..despicable people
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