Americans are used to hearing about the Chinese economy, but there is less public awareness of the progress being made by the Chinese military. Like its economy, China’s armed services are on the rise.
U.S. officials and outside experts agree that China is undertaking a comprehensive modernization of its military, which has gotten smaller but smarter. China’s ability to deliver nuclear warheads to American cities is expanding. It has invested in high-tech weaponry, airpower, cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles that could target U.S. ships defending Taiwan; this modernization is one reason why the U.S. is applying strong pressure on the European Union to maintain an arms embargo with China.
Behind this progress is a capacity for enormous growth.