Face-Off: The U.S. vs China China's Arms Race
35 snips
Nov 25, 2025 
Zhou Bo, a retired senior colonel in the People's Liberation Army and military affairs commentator, joins historian Rana Mitter for an engaging discussion on China's military evolution. They explore China's accelerated naval expansion and advancements in hypersonic missiles, revealing Xi Jinping's purges aimed at a loyal military. Topics include the implications of China's no-first-use policy, Taiwan's status, and the lessons learned from Russia's actions in Ukraine. The conversation emphasizes the need for US-China military dialogue amid growing tensions.
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Training Instead Of Combat Tests
- Lack of recent wartime experience creates uncertainty about PLA operational effectiveness.
- Zhou Bo says exercises, robots, and AI training are being used to compensate for absence of combat experience.
Taiwan Red Line
- Zhou Bo warns that a Taiwanese declaration of independence would trigger non-peaceful response under China's anti-secession law.
- He expects Taipei to avoid formal independence and believes Beijing remains patient and prefers peaceful reunification.
Carriers For Global Projection
- Aircraft carriers support long-distance force projection and global missions beyond a Taiwan scenario.
- Zhou Bo downplays carriers as decisive in a Taiwan fight, emphasizing long-range fires and other capabilities.
