Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns about the deep military ties shared between China and Russia. This ChinaPower feature analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of China-Russia military relations, focusing on arms sales and joint military exercises.
Within Tibet and Xinjiang, China is constructing and upgrading dozens of airports and heliports—a large majority of which are military or dual-use facilities. China is supplementing its airpower expansion with new ground infrastructure that is upgrading the PLA’s ability to move troops, weaponry, and supplies.
A superpower is distinguished by its power projection abilities. Spurred by economic growth and expanding regional security interests, China has embarked on a large-scale modernization of its military, but it remains unclear if China is yet a global superpower.
