According to a report posted yesterday in Sputnik, Beijing has reminded the world this month that its armed forces are not just some of the most numerically superior in the world, but also have cutting-edge military tech at their disposal. The report highlights three recent developments in Chinese military technology: the appearance, a few days ago, of two new advanced aircraft, characterized by observers as “sixth generation;” the first flight of the KJ-3000 airborne early warning aircraft, which is said to be capable of detecting both conventional and stealth aircraft; and the launching in Shanghai, last week, of the CNS Sichuan, the first of a new class of assault ships called Type 076.
Sputnik cites veteran geopolitical analyst and former Marine Brian Berletic, noting that the speed at which the Sichuan was constructed, going “from a proposal in 2020 to afloat at the end of 2024,” highlights the “tremendously faster construction rates of Chinese warships versus their American counterparts.”
“America class amphibious assault ships began construction in 2008 with the first of its class commissioned in 2014 and as of late 2024 only two have been completed,” Berletic tells Sputnik. “While the Type 076 is entirely new, the Type 075 amphibious assault ship class began construction in 2018 with three already completed.”
Unlike the United States which “prioritizes the projection of military power around the globe,” China’s military “has been shaped by the prioritization of China’s territorial defense,” Berletic notes. “The building of a powerful missile, naval, and air forces by China is required to both deter U.S. encroachment and confront U.S. aggression. China’s ability to outbuild the U.S. in terms of aircraft, ships, and missiles ensures any conflict that erupts will end in China’s favor with the hope that U.S. policymakers will realize this even before fighting begins,” he argued.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is committing the island to be on the front lines in defense of the “rules-based international order,” saying in a New Year’s address on Wednesday that Taiwan was a crucial part of the “line of defense of democracy” globally, reported AP. “Authoritarian countries such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran are still collaborating to threaten the international order that is based on rules. This has severely influenced the Indo-Pacific region and the world’s peace and stability,” Lai proclaimed.
“Taiwan must be prepared for danger in times of peace. It must keep increasing the national defense budget to strengthen its defense capabilities in order to show the determination to defend the country. Every single person has the duty to protect Taiwan’s democracy and security,” Lai said.
