The Chinese government run by the communist party controls China with fear-mongering and deception. Like every other autocracy regime, there has to be a good reason why they exist.
Chinese armed forces with its second-largest defense budget in the world. Stands at 237$ billion last year. And it is full and absolute control of the Chinese Communist Party. Under the one supreme commander President Xi Jinping.
The Communist regime in China has become hostile towards its neighbors. The Chinese military has become more assertive towards its neighbors during COVID -19, Corona Virus pandemic.
The Chinese PLA militarising the South China Sea, disputed by all the counties in the region. And it is also moving its claws towards Taiwan, Changing the status quo in Hong Kong, and trying to grab lands of its neighbors. China tried to take over the disputed Indian territory in Ladakh and Dokhlan of Bhutan. But was successfully repealed by Indian troops in both instances.
Apart from all these assertiveness and fancy Made in China military toys, the Chinese regime is quietly worried about its irreparable weakness. In this article, I will explain their weakness, Which the Chinese military planners yet to sort out.
Here is the real weakness of China’s Military:
(1) Challenge of recruiting professionals :
There is a saying in the defense circle. You might have all the fancy toys but without proper recruits, you will lose the war. The Chinese Regime made it mandatory for its citizens to serve in PLA for a period of 2 years.
China is the world’s largest standing army. it has to have the manpower to maintain its strength. People of China are proud to serve in their military ranks, either way, they have no choice or what so ever.
The Problem with this conscription cycle is that for every 2 years, someone will be released from duty. The vacancy then has to be filled by the new recruits.
Every Chinese soldier is trained for the next 90 days of intense training. The first 15 days will be about the Chinese Communist Party and other political indoctrination. The authoritarian regime in China using patriotism as a tool to brainwash these young minds rather than focusing on the health of its military.
Due to this Conscription cycle, the PLA set to lose nearly 35% of this professional and actual combat power for a period of 4 months every year. While China claims it has the world’s largest standing Army it fails to retain its military professionals.
By this assessment, China is fighting fit for 9 months in a year. Just to give you the actual picture and major weakness in the Chinese military.
(2) Weak and unprofessional military personnel
In China, the cost of living is very high. Calling itself as a socialist regime, the Chinese CCP acts like an inventor of Capitalism. Economic inequality is very high in China. Poorest of poor lives among the world’s richest. This is even at an alarming rate than India.
Poor youths in China living in the outskirts join and stick with PLA for additional perks. But the educated and professional city dwellers quit. City youths tend to leave the PLA after their conscription period is over. This deprives the PLA of retaining high-quality professionals.
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(3) Corruption runs rampant in PLA:
If you heard about the news that one scuffle at LAC or standoff happened without the knowledge of high command? It is probably true. The People’s Liberation Army is unaccountable to its civilians. Unlike other countries where civilian officials overlook the working of their armed forces, China has none. The only civilian representation in PLA is Chinese president Xi Jinping.
PLA demands and gets what it wants. Even if it doesn’t make sense. This has lead to countless corruption scandals for many decades. Well the only person who can question them is Xi Jinping and he also happens to be the one who approves these corrupt deals. so he has to authorize the arrest of “himself”. Usually, a PLA officer gets charged and vanish into the point of nowhere. So the case can be closed.
This unaccountability has led to the procurements if untested and low-quality weapon platforms. Later sold to other countries like Pakistan and North Korea asserting that their weapon systems are fighting fit as PLA has shown confidence in them.
Long story short. There will be no explanation or debate about the defense budget allocation or strategies at the national people’s congress.
(4) Constrains in Operational initiatives of PLA:
The work culture in China is very primitive in nature. The high command will always have the last say. The Chinese Communist Party and its administrators never listen to their subordinates. All the decisions, ideas that helped to make that decision are all up to to the higher-ups.
The same being followed in the People’s Liberation Army as well. The local commander has no power to undertake the decision. The front line commanders deprived of the power to make a decision regarding the quick development at the front line.
Rather they will have to wait for the order from the high-ups till then confusion will prevail.
(5) All that shine are not gold:
The Chinese media are controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propagate Chinese military might with heavily tampered videos of PLA training. Looks nice and periodically they get called out for using Hollywood movie clips and showing it as their own.
But in reality, the Chinese troops don’t get enough training which is challenging enough. As per a study, Chinese military training focuses on victory but not on the problems faced to be victorious.
Chinese military training usually made in a way to satisfy and impress the superiors. In one instance the Chinese military crew was caught cheating at the world games meant for military held in China last year 2019.
Not just that, in a major embarrassment the Chinese UN peacekeeping force refused to help women aid workers and fled the battlefield rather than engaging in the combat. Later Indian peacekeeping force was sent for their rescue. As per the UN Peacekeeping mission in Sudan.
Conclusion :
This is the People’s Liberation Army over-hyped by its own media. Most of the people in China will never know these facts. The Chinese Communist Party as putting a blanket ban on international social media in China. People in China read and learn what CCP wants them to know.
In actual combat, the Chinese soldier’s morale will play a deciding factor. With no actual experiences in wars, With no actual victories. China will love to play the role of a bully. Who is insecure inside so be loud to and keep the threats away. But once you breach this line China will retreat or even surrender. War is a T20 cricket but a Test Match which requires long physical endurance and will power to win.
Burdened with organizational issues, inefficiencies, weak, and Unprofessional soldiers, The Chinese PLA is neither perfect not invincible.
