Timothy Heath

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.

China's army, with two million soldiers, is the largest in the world. However, they lack experience operating large combat forces on another continent. The Chinese military conscripts a quarter of its force due to difficulty attracting volunteers. China's growing military strength raises concerns about their intentions. Their economic ties are accompanied by efforts to share their preferred political values. The podcast ends with a discussion on the future rivalry and complicated relationship between China and the US.

Defence analyst Timothy Heath discusses security threats posed by Huawei in the US, while cyber security expert Dmitri Alperovitch talks about Chinese industrial espionage. They explore the escalating tensions between the US and China, the implications on trade negotiations, and the risks of using Chinese technology in critical infrastructure.