Battle Lines China's military (1/3): How it went from obsolete to world-class
Jul 28, 2025
Phillip Saunders, Director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, discusses China's military evolution from obsolete to world-class. He delves into the implications of China's military buildup and Xi Jinping's purge of the People’s Liberation Army. The conversation explores the rapid expansion of China’s naval capabilities and advancements in military aviation, including stealth fighters and drones. Saunders also highlights the increasing sophistication of China’s nuclear strategy and cyber warfare units, shedding light on the future of military dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
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China's Navy: Largest and Growing
- China's navy evolved from obsolete to world's largest by quantity, with high-tech ships like the Type 055 cruiser.
- The rapid shipbuilding enables multi-mission reach and potential to protect trade routes and project power near Taiwan.
PLA Air Force & Drone Power
- China's air force is the largest in Asia with modern fourth and fifth generation fighters, plus developing stealth bombers.
- They also lead in drone manufacturing, using UAVs widely for intelligence, communications, and strikes.
China's Massive, Mechanized Army
- China has the world's largest standing army with 2 million personnel and nearly 7,000 advanced battle tanks.
- They automate some functions like tank loading, perhaps due to concerns over training highly skilled crews.
