Exposed: China's Military Weaknesses Could Put Its Global Ambitions in Jeopardy

 

China's military has undergone significant modernization efforts in recent years, with the goal of establishing itself as a global military power. However, a closer examination of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) reveals several weaknesses that will limit its ability to project power and defend China's interests. In this article, we will explore the factors that contribute to China's weak military and fighting capabilities, including its lack of combat experience, the impact of the one-child policy on demographics, an aging population, and corruption within the PLA.

Lack of Combat Experience

One of the most significant weaknesses of the PLA is its lack of combat experience. While China has invested heavily in modernizing its military, it has not fought a major war since its conflict with Vietnam in 1979. This means that many of the PLA's soldiers and officers have never seen real combat, and may not be prepared for the realities of modern warfare.
Moreover, China's military training and doctrine are focused primarily on defending the homeland against a potential invasion, rather than projecting power abroad. This defensive mindset may limit the PLA's ability to conduct offensive operations in a coordinated and effective manner.
The lack of combat experience was evident during China's military standoff with India in 2020, which saw PLA soldiers engage in hand-to-hand combat with Indian troops in the Galwan Valley. The clashes resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers. The fact that the PLA resorted to using primitive weapons, such as clubs and stones, suggests that its soldiers were not adequately trained or equipped for such a situation.

One-Child Policy

Another challenge facing China's military is the impact of the one-child policy on demographics. The policy, which was in place from 1979 to 2015, was intended to control population growth, but it also resulted in a rapidly aging population. According to the United Nations, China's population is projected to peak in 2029 and then decline rapidly, with the number of people over 65 increasing from 12% in 2020 to 25% in 2050.
This demographic shift could have a significant impact on China's military capabilities, as older soldiers may not be as physically fit or mentally sharp as their younger counterparts. Moreover, the one-child policy also had unintended consequences on the PLA's recruitment and retention. With fewer children being born, the pool of potential recruits is smaller, which could limit the PLA's ability to maintain its size and quality over the long term.
The aging population also presents challenges for China's military in terms of healthcare and social safety net. A larger population of elderly citizens will place a greater burden on China's healthcare system, which may limit the resources available for the military. In addition, an aging population could also strain China's social safety net, which could lead to social unrest and instability.

Corruption within the PLA

Corruption is another significant problem within the PLA. The military is known for its opaque budgeting and procurement practices, which make it difficult to track how funds are being used. In addition, there have been numerous cases of corruption and embezzlement within the PLA, with high-ranking officers being accused of using their positions to enrich themselves and their families.
For example, in 2016, General Guo Boxiong, a former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, was sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes and abuse of power. In 2020, General Fang Fenghui, former chief of the Joint Staff Department, was sentenced to life in prison for bribery and corruption.
This corruption not only undermines the PLA's effectiveness but also erodes public trust in the military and the Communist Party. It also creates a perception that the PLA is more concerned with enriching its leaders than with defending the country

Conclusion

In conclusion, China's military may not be as strong as it appears. Its lack of combat experience, the impact of the one-child policy on demographics, the aging population, and corruption within the PLA are all factors that could limit its ability to project power and defend its interests. While China has made significant investments in modernizing its military, these weaknesses could still pose a significant challenge to its long-term strategic goals

Why Should You Boycott Made-In-China Products?

China is under heavy scrutiny nowadays due to increasing unemployment, an emerging middle-class increasingly addicted to luxuries (high-end technology), and greater expectations for living standards and education - yet again unheard-of in its history. Lost amid some of the commotions is a growing anti-Beijing sentiment that has been steadily evolving due to a few environmental events, revisions in the constitution, and what can be described only as China’s steady rebellion against democracy. China has a good setup system to manufacture in large quantities to reduce the price of its goods. As panic over a trade war grows in the U.S., here are some reasons people should boycott Made-In-China products.

Why should you not buy Chinese products?

There are many reasons why you should avoid purchasing products made in China. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. Poor Quality Control

In China, quality control is often lax, which means that products may not meet your expectations. Additionally, Chinese manufacturers often use lower-quality materials than what is used in products made in other countries.

2. Working Conditions Are Often Poor

Working conditions in Chinese factories are often poor. Employees may work long hours for little pay, and they may not have access to basic amenities like clean drinking water or toilet facilities. Additionally, workers may be exposed to hazardous materials without proper safety equipment.

3. Environmental Regulations Are Not Strictly Enforced

In China, environmental regulations are not strictly enforced, which can lead to pollution problems. For example, factories in China often release toxic chemicals into the air and water, which can harm both the environment and human health. So if you are an environment lover or really concerned about climate change you should avoid cheap Chinese products.

4. Products May Not Be Safe

Due to the lack of quality control and safety regulations in China, some products that are made there may not be safe to use. For example, toys that are made in China may contain lead paint, which can be harmful to children if ingested.

5 . You are Supporting forced labor

Camps Horror stories abound of forced labor camps being used by Chinese manufacturers to produce goods for export. inmates of these camps are typically political prisoners or people who have been convicted of minor offenses. they are forced to work longer. Apart from prisoners CCP officials also used Uyghurs and Tibetans as slave laborers. More than 1 M Uyghurs are used as slaves.

What are the benefits of boycotting Chinese goods?

There are many reasons to boycott Chinese goods. Here are some of the benefits:
1. You will be supporting fair trade practices that china doesn't follow because of its unfair subsidies to its state companies.
2. You will be supporting local businesses and workers around you which will help and build your community.
3. You will be helping to reduce environmental pollution.
4. You will be helping to protect the human rights of millions of people living in prisons and labor camps.

Attack on democratic Taiwan and India

Your purchase of Chinese products fills the pocket of the Chinese military which is eyeing to capture Taiwan and parts of India. The people of Taiwan and India are free and have a thriving democracy, your money can destroy their hard-built country.

Is it challenging to boycott these products?

The idea of boycotting products made in China may seem daunting, especially if you're used to purchasing a lot of items from that country. However, it's not as difficult as it may seem. There are plenty of alternative products available from other countries that you can purchase instead.

Some people may worry about the quality of products made outside of China. However, there are many high-quality products available from other countries, including some that are cheaper than their Chinese counterparts. In addition, by boycotting products made in China, you'll send a message to businesses and manufacturers that you're not willing to support unethical labor practices.

And examples are available, Governments and people around the world raise concerns about China's military-linked company Huawei which was harvesting data of millions of people around the globe. People demanded the ban and alternative technology emerged in the telecom sector. 

Proposed Next Steps to Boycott Chinese Goods

There are many ways to boycott Chinese products, but here are some key ways to get started:
1. Avoid products that are made in China. This seems obvious, but it can be difficult to do if you're not paying attention. Many products these days are made in China, so it's important to check labels and do your research before you buy anything.
2. Buy from companies that support the boycott. A growing number of companies are pledging to avoid Chinese-made goods, and by supporting them, you can help send a message with your wallet.
3. Speak out about the issue. Talk to your friends and family about why you're boycotting Chinese products and encourage them to do the same. You can also write letters or make phone calls to businesses and politicians to let them know that you're boycotting Chinese goods and why.

4. Your boycott will help diversify the supply chain of world economics and in the future, no country will be able to weaponize trade as a political tool.

5. World Capital will reach other developing economies and help develop their country.

United States vs China: The Tech Race

The United States trade war with China is becoming more and more important. One of the main battlegrounds is in technology. The US is cutting off access to essential AI and hardware  technology, which China needs in order to catch up to the US in development of core Technology. This lack of US ownership on this important, global technology has major implications for the world balance of power.

For decades, the US and China have had a mutually beneficial partnership. The US was able to focus on innovation and technical expertise, while China had a huge population and cheap labor for US to draw from for any labor intensive problem.

But time have changed, The U.S. cut off access to chips which are essential in all kinds of technology and research. As a result, China has been making its own chips and won't purchase as many supplies from the U.S-based companies. The risks of becoming dependent on another country for vital components of new technology shouldn't go ignored.

China's capability to monitor global internet traffic is a longstanding concern. There has been increased tension between the U.S, and China as Trump blocked Huawei, the major telecom component manufacturer in 2019. The backdoors in 5G towers would have given China power to spy on more of our communications. After Trump banned Huawei many Western countries as well as some Asian countries like Japan and India also banned Huawei components. Trump made this a bipartisan issue when he called out China declaring war on Huawei, which continued with Biden in 2021 who doubled down with the CHIPS act which gave American semiconductor companies $52 billion dollars.

It was essential to start investing in chip startups because new chip startups weren't getting funded. Big chip companies weren't investing in capex. America was falling behind in STEM graduates. Earlier this year, US restricted the sale of Nvidia's A100 and H100 chips. These models boast lots of memory and bandwidth, which means they're great for training larger models. All tech stakeholders want access to these right now.

Graphics cards are only one piece of the puzzle. Somewhere downstream, there's a supply chain that includes TSMC and ASML. TSMC manufactures the actual chips in graphics cards, and ASML makes the machines used to fabricate these chips at TSMC. But with regard to semiconductor sales by China-based companies, Biden enacted a restriction on everything downstream from the graphics card business. The latest bans have cut China off from the entire semiconductor supply chain so now they have to figure out how to make all their parts themselves including ASMs (TSMC and AMD) and SMES (AMD). It's unclear just how long it will take for China to be back up-to-speed.

This week, Biden and Xi Jinping met in person in G20 and discuss. At the end of the day, the United States has a head start on chips and wants to maintain that lead over China. This will be one of the defining geopolitical stories for the foreseeable future.

Why Biden and Xi meet at G20?

On Nov 14, President Xi & President Biden met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.

During their 3-hour meeting, president Biden and Xijinping discussed the relations of their countries, war in Ukraine, tensions regarding Taiwan, & the importance of collaborating to combat global issues.

While this is the first face-to-face meeting as presidents of their respective countries, Biden and Xi have known each other for over a decade, and both expressed warmness upon seeing each other.

US officials also stated that they understood this meeting as an opportunity to gain clarity on appropriate points of contact in the Chinese government following the 20th Party Congress.

Biden also raised issues of human rights in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the country more broadly. He highlighted that resolving the cases of American citizens wrongfully detained or subject to exit bans in China was a priority for his administration.

Competition, Not Conflict According to the White House readout of the meeting, Biden reiterated that the “United States will continue to compete vigorously with the PRC” but this competition “should not veer into conflict and underscored that the US & China must manage the competition responsibly and maintain open lines of communication”. The leaders agreed that they must work together on international challenges, including global food security, climate change, and health security, as that is their responsibility to the global community. Towards these aims, they agreed to empower senior officials to collaborate and maintain communications. These efforts will include an early 2023 visit by Secretary of State Blinken to China.

In his remarks prior to their bilateral meeting, President Biden within the context of Chinese and American responsibility to work together against global challenges exclaimed that “The United States stands ready to do just that—work with you—if that’s what you desire seemed to be a mutual desire to downplay the perception that Washington and Beijing are nearing a revitalized Cold War-style confrontation.

On Taiwan Biden warned Xi that his aggressive stance towards Taiwan threatens regional stability and could jeopardize the global economy, to which Xi responded that Taiwan’s independence was as incompatible to peace and stability as “fire and water.” Xi continued to clarify that Taiwan is a red line within the China-US relationship and “anyone who tries to split Taiwan from China would defy the virtuous cause of the Chinese nation.”

After the meeting, Biden told reporters that he does not think there is a serious imminent threat of Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The Foreign Ministry of the People's Republic of China’s readout of the meeting specifies that “Solving the Taiwan issue is a matter of the Chinese people themselves and China’s internal affairs.” This statement comes shortly after the claim that “China has never sought to change the existing international order, does not interfere in the internal affairs of the United States, and has no intention of challenging or replacing the United States.

On Ukraine Both leaders agreed that a nuclear war should never be fought, as it can never be won. Xi said that he is highly concerned with the situation in Ukraine. The Chinese readout stated that “China has always stood on the side of peace” and will continue to support the resumption of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. They hope that “the United States, NATO and the European Union will engage in a comprehensive dialogue with Russia.”