Face-Off: The U.S. vs China China's Arms Race
Nov 25, 2025
Zhou Bo, a retired senior colonel in the People's Liberation Army and military affairs commentator, joins historian Rana Mitter for an engaging discussion on China's military evolution. They explore China's accelerated naval expansion and advancements in hypersonic missiles, revealing Xi Jinping's purges aimed at a loyal military. Topics include the implications of China's no-first-use policy, Taiwan's status, and the lessons learned from Russia's actions in Ukraine. The conversation emphasizes the need for US-China military dialogue amid growing tensions.
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China's Long-Term Military Goal
- China is pursuing a program to build a world-class military by 2049 and is rapidly expanding ships, missiles, and nuclear forces.
- Zhou Bo argues this growth is part of an unstoppable national rejuvenation, not necessarily aimed solely at the United States.
Parade As Transparency
- The 2023 Victory Day parade both signaled military capability and served as a transparency exercise about China's forces.
- Zhou Bo says showing sea, air, and land nuclear launch capability can be read as reducing Western complaints about opacity.
Nuclear Build-Up With No-First-Use Claim
- China is expanding its nuclear arsenal substantially but officially maintains a no-first-use policy.
- Zhou Bo frames expansion as strengthening second-strike credibility while retaining the no-first-use pledge.
