“China famously hasn’t fought in a proper high-intensity conflict, arguably since the Korean War, certainly since the Sino-Vietnamese war (in 1979). So, what does that tell us about their ability to prevail? As we learned from Russia’s experience in Ukraine, you can’t just count the beans,” said Panda.
Meanwhile, by way of comparison, it’s hard to argue with the US military’s ability to put firepower on target.
The US strike on Iranian nuclear sites in June, when seven B-2 stealth bombers dropped 14 of the world’s most powerful conventional weapons on target while not drawing any counterfire, is hard to imagine within China’s current abilities.
For one thing, the PLA Air Force has yet to show a stealth bomber in the B-2’s category, although one is said to be in the works. Even then, the next generation US bomber, the B-21, is already in the prototype stage.
So, there’s a wariness in the analyst community, even after the impressive show in Beijing Wednesday.
Retired Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan said he believed the US remained the strongest military in the world, “but probably by a lesser margin than it has been for many decades” with China closing the gap.
“The Chinese military is very technologically sophisticated… but most importantly, it just about builds everything it needs indigenously,” he told CNN, adding that it means Beijing could not be “coerced” by foreign weapon suppliers.
But he noted none of the weapons on display have been tested in combat.
“Impressive on the surface, parades are not a good indicator of military effectiveness,” Ryan said.
