The 19th party congress has set a roadmap for China’s modernization and full revival as a superpower, a timetable to redeem and restore the former glory of the Middle Kingdom.
A report delivered by Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping has decreed that the nation’s “socialist modernization” must be realised by 2035, and by the centenary of the People’s Republic in 2049, China wants to be a well-off, socialist superpower that is able to rule the roost worldwide.
In line with the national blueprint, the report also stipulated that its military buildup must be in sync with China’s overall development: achieving modernization of the People’s Liberation Army by 2035 and turning the PLA into a world-class force by 2049.
Pictures, above, of late People’s Liberation Army soldier Lei Feng, Chinese President Xi Jinping and late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong overlook a courtyard in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters/Aly Song
Observers say Beijing has been less forthcoming when it comes to the 2049 goal for its military, as there are currently only two forces that are indisputably world-class or quasi-world-class status: the US and Russian forces.
“Beijing wants to surpass the Russian army and at least catch up with the US in strategies, weaponry, capacity and war-readiness,” Macau-based military commentator Wong Tung said.
Gap with Russian military narrowed
The PLA has transcended the British, French and German militaries on the back of China’s economic buoyancy and record defence budgets.
The size and weaponry of the PLA have almost outstripped these mid-sized military powers that once forced the precarious Qing dynasty to cede colonies and concessions during the first and second Opium Wars some 150 years ago.
The PLA has also narrowed the gap in weaponry and military technologies when compared with the Russian Armed Forces, which used to be much emulated by the infant Chinese military, particularly in the early years after the People’s Republic was established in 1949.
Wong said the PLA still had a lot of catching-up to do to get to the same league with the US military, and these areas included automation and digitalization of warfare and command, logistics and strategic delivery and deployment of troops and weaponry, coordination among land, air and sea troops, strategic nuclear submarines and spy satellites, plus ocean-going airbases like supercarriers, etc.
But the PLA has been making steady headway. For instance, it launched its first homemade aircraft carrier earlier this year. It now has two seagoing combat airbases, and Beijing expects to add two more to its fleet by 2021.
15 years to catch up with the US: Kyodo
The PLA Navy has also been expediting the rollout of new cruisers, destroyer squadrons, supply ships and other escorts to form a complete aircraft-carrier strike group.
The PLA’s intercontinental ballistic missiles and rockets are on a par with the nukes owned by the US and ensure nuclear deterrence.
Japan’s Kyodo News estimated in an analysis that the PLA may just need 15 years to catch up with the US military in all key areas, provided that ample funding is guaranteed and the West’s arms embargo is loose enough that researchers in the Chinese can get hold of more cutting-edge weapons and systems – and develop copycat versions, which has been the approach favoured by Beijing to enable “breakthroughs” for defence technology.
Small chinese weapons !
Only good for surpressing Tibet, students in Tianamen Sq and uighurs.
Small Chinese weapons, everyone will be laughing
Small chinese weapons pose a threat to no one.
i think after developing its mily infrastructure to cope with any threat China will focus on providing cheaper medicines and foodstuff to developing countries
Long time alliance relationship grow deeper.unity is strenght let States run far far back to Yankee n cowboys world
When the Chinese are leading the US in supercomputer speed, Quantim application, supertrain tech, certain aspect of IT apps, and general engineering, it’s simply lazy guesswork to say they are behind the US militarily!
They have the stronger of economy, critical mass of talents in greater numbers, huge resources and far greater resolve!
It can be predicted that within five years they would surpass the US militarily!
The US are already found wanting technically in new weapons rolled out recently(e.g. F-35) and inefficient in applying them(four heavily techno naval ships collisions(in nine months). They can only attack smallish defenceles nations with their old weapons!
When the Chinese are leading the US in Supercomputer, AI, Wuantum application, supertrsin tech, certain aspects of IT and general engineering, it is just guesswork to say they are behind the US military.
They are the greater Humber of talents, resources and economic power.
But they are happy to be underestimated.
It is predictable that within five years they would surpass the US sharply judging by their speed of development! The US are already find wanting in defective new weaponry and ineficient in operating them. They can only attack smallish nation as always.
After reaching parity with only superpower, I hope China will help realized a more stable and peaceful future for the whole world. It is their insecurities and the west as well which is causing all the friction nowadays. Of course, we must not forget North Korea, Iran, and the muslim extremists ideology.
By you?
AT has stopped being credible.
Like the US and Russia, the Chinese will probably sell more hardware overseas to help pay for research and development and, build up its own world class military industrial complex.
Such an idiot thought!!!!!!
China will be nuked soon. So, stop wasting your money
I believe the Chinese do not realize they pose a greater threat to Russia than to the US. As soon as the US retreats from Asia, the threat to the US will disappear. But the threat to Russia will grow bigger. What are the Russian doing now?