China is the world’s second largest arms producer, but the ability of its arms industry to domestically develop certain advanced weapon systems is still growing. If China can successfully strengthen its defense industry, it can reduce its reliance on foreign technologies and establish itself as a global leader in cutting-edge military capabilities.
Will China use significant military force against a country on its periphery within the next five years? Experts discuss in this special debate episode.
In this episode, Mr. Ankit Panda joins us to discuss China’s growing conventional missile arsenal and associated implications for military strategy and security in the Indo-Pacific region. He highlights the role of China’s ground-based missiles in the projection of military power, noting that an increased arsenal can hamper U.S. forces in the region and give the People’s Liberation Army increased maneuverability. Mr. Panda talks about the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from the INF treaty and the political obstacles to an increased U.S. arsenal around China’s periphery. In addition, he explains the strategic implications of China’s dual-capable missile force, and specifically the DF-26 missile’s ability to rapidly convert between nuclear and conventional warheads. Finally, Mr. Panda analyzes the role of hypersonic glide vehicles, noting that while the underlying technology is not new, advances in materials science have allowed more countries to develop HGV systems.
As part of sweeping efforts to modernize the People’s Liberation Army, China has developed the world’s largest and most diverse arsenal of land-based conventional missiles. Learn how China’s missile forces are evolving and how they are affecting the Indo-Pacific security landscape in our exclusive feature.
In this episode, Greg Levesque joins us to discuss China’s Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) program. Mr. Levesque explains the central role of MCF in the Chinese Communist Party’s strategy to make China a world-class military power by 2049, and details the steps Beijing has taken thus far in integrating the military and civil sectors. He also highlights some of the challenges that China faces in its efforts to implement MCF. Finally, Mr. Levesque describes how MCF may pose a threat to US interests and offers recommendations for how the US and its allies can effectively respond.
In this episode, Todd Harrison and Kaitlyn Johnson join us to discuss China’s military capabilities and ambitions in space. They discuss China’s military space doctrine and achievements over the last two decades, especially focusing on its counterspace weapon systems. They also address the Wolf Amendment, which forbids NASA and the China National Space Administration from any bilateral cooperation, and how it will affect future US-China cooperation in space.
In this episode, Dr. Hans Kristensen joins us to discuss China’s nuclear policy, nuclear weapons capabilities, and nuclear doctrine. Dr. Kristensen assesses the significance of Beijing’s no-first-use policy and compares China’s nuclear arsenal with those of other major powers. He also explains potential factors that may lead China to increase its nuclear arsenal and alter its current nuclear strategy in the future.
In this episode, Mr. Tate Nurkin joins us to discuss the latest developments in China’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. Mr. Nurkin explains and analyzes the integration of China’s expanding drone technologies into its military capabilities. He also highlights the impact of Chinese UAV companies on international and domestic commercial markets, as well as how China’s UAV exports and capabilities are viewed by US policymakers.
