The General & the Journalist China’s power: The PLA vs the USA (Part 1)
Sep 3, 2025
Timothy Heath, a senior international and defense researcher at RAND and former US intelligence analyst, joins the hosts to discuss China's recent military display marking World War II. The conversation dives into the rising strategic threat of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) compared to Russia, the implications of Taiwan ambitions, and advancements in hypersonic technology. Heath highlights the PLA’s challenges regarding combat readiness and its dual role as a military and political tool under Xi Jinping, raising questions about its effectiveness in future confrontations.
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Read Parades For Capability Signs
- Watch for hypersonic missiles, theater-command formations, and unmanned systems in Chinese parades to gauge operational priorities.
- Timothy Heath recommends analysts scrutinize displayed tech and formations for real capability signals.
PLA Serves Party First
- The PLA is the armed wing of the Communist Party and not a national military serving a country.
- This political identity shapes training, mission priorities, and loyalty oaths to Xi Jinping and the CCP.
Political Training Cuts Combat Time
- Political work and indoctrination occupy a large share of PLA time and resources, reducing combat focus.
- Timothy Heath notes 20–40% of a soldier's time can be spent on political education about Xi Jinping and party theory.
