Is There A Chinese Naval/Military Threat?

China is developing a modern military, second only to America Photo: REUTERS

From The Strategy Page:

The U.S. Navy is looking for a sufficiently impressive foe to help scare more money out of Congress. The Chinese Navy (or, more correctly, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy) is now the favorites candidate, for navy and defense industry analysts, to become the new Big Bad. Just how dangerous are these Chinese sailors and their ships? It turns out that, on closer inspection, not very.

This is the sort of thing that what went on during the Cold War. Russian military prowess was hyped by American the military, and their defense suppliers, to justify further increases in defense spending. When the Cold War ended, it was revealed how the Russian military, and defense manufacturers, plaid the same game. It also revealed that Russian military capabilities were far less than the hype indicated.

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My Comment: The key sentence in this post is the following ....

China has a lot of domestic problems to worry about, which is apparently one reason the government isn't willing to give a lot of money to the military.

This is an observation that I am in total agreement with. From the Western press, we are told that China is an emerging and growing economic/political/military power .... but what is not shown to us is the hardship, massive poverty, and deep resentment among many in the interior of the country to the reforms and developments that have led China to where it is today.

But the Chinese are not deluded by Western media reports. They are more focused on what they must do to address the economic disparities that exist within their own country .... a focus that I predict will take all of their energies and efforts for the next 20 - 30 years. As for the Chinese military, their growth is going to be based on what their economic and social policies will tell them is possible .... not on what their Generals would like to see.