Best of the Spectator Americano: how scary is China's military?
Sep 23, 2025
Harry Kazianis, editor-in-chief of the National Security Journal and a national security expert, dives into the alarming rise of China’s military capabilities. He highlights China's ambitions to dominate the Indo-Pacific through advanced military tech, including stealth fighters and hypersonic missiles. Kazianis evaluates the potential consequences for Taiwan, noting the strategic challenges of a coastal strike versus long-term occupation. He also discusses the U.S. industrial shortfalls and vulnerabilities in face of China's mass drone production.
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China's Regional, Not Global, Military Goal
- China aims to dominate the Indo-Pacific rather than become a global hegemon.
- Its military investments since the 1990s target regional power projection from its shores to Hawaii.
Missiles Are China's Core Strategy
- Missiles, especially anti-ship and hypersonic types, form the core of China's strategy.
- These systems aim to deny US carriers access and protect China's maritime sphere of influence.
Taiwan Would Be Hard To Hold
- China has the capability to seize Taiwan's major coastal cities but faces difficult interior terrain and prolonged resistance.
- An invasion could produce a Ukraine‑style insurgency and a long, costly occupation for Beijing.