The Intelligence from The Economist
The Peking order: Can China’s army surpass the US?
Nov 14, 2024
Avantika Chilkoti, a global business correspondent for The Economist, discusses the recent struggles in luxury e-commerce as post-pandemic consumer habits shift. She highlights the challenges major retailers face and MyTheresa's strategic plans for recovery. Anne Rowe, the obituaries editor, shares the poignant story of Balthazar Ushka, Ecuador's last ice miner, reflecting on his battle with modernity and climate change as he cherishes the ice of Chimborazo mountain, a symbol of his cultural heritage.
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Quick takeaways
- China's military modernization has significantly improved its naval and aerial capabilities, potentially allowing it to surpass the U.S. by 2027.
- Despite advancements in technology, China's military faces considerable challenges in integration and real combat experience, crucial for effective operation.
Deep dives
China's Military Advancements
China has made significant strides in modernizing its military capabilities, particularly in the naval domain. The Chinese navy has become the largest in the world and is now producing high-quality warships that match or even exceed those of the United States in terms of design and combat capabilities. A notable metric is the vertical launch system cells, where the gap between the U.S. and Chinese fleets has shrunk dramatically from a ratio of over 200 to 1 in 2004 to nearly 2 to 1 recently, with projections indicating that China may surpass the U.S. by 2027. This shift signifies a transition from quantity to quality in China's naval approach.
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