The Intelligence from The Economist
The Intelligence: how strong is the Chinese military?
Nov 10, 2023
Jeremy Page, The Economist's Asia diplomatic editor, discusses the capabilities and challenges of the Chinese military, warning against both overestimating and underestimating its might, especially regarding Taiwan's security. Anne Rowe pays tribute to David Kirk, exploring themes of historical legacies and the emotional weight of ancestral sins, while introducing a fascinating journey into reconciliation with the past. With bungee jumping as a metaphor for embracing risks, these insights highlight the delicate balance between history and modern-day challenges.
24:28
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Quick takeaways
- China's military, the PLA, faces challenges such as a lack of combat experience since 1979, limited success in engagements, a convoluted command structure, inadequate logistics, and a shortage of technologically skilled recruits.
- The podcast explores the responsibility of descendants of slave traders to address historical injustices, with a focus on Charlie Gladstone's journey to apologize for his ancestor's actions and the wider issue of reparations for slavery.
Deep dives
China's Battle-Readiness for a Possible Invasion of Taiwan
China's military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), has been expanding its operations near Taiwan, raising concerns of a potential invasion. However, China's lack of combat experience since 1979 and a history of limited success in engagements like the conflict with Vietnam and the pro-democracy protests in Beijing pose challenges. The PLA also faces obstacles like a convoluted command structure, inadequate logistics, and a shortage of technologically skilled recruits. While China has a large army, navy, and air force, its military reform efforts have been slow, and concerns of overestimating its capabilities and provoking unnecessary confrontation exist.
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