The Chinese navy is the world’s largest, boasting over 370 ships and submarines, including more than 140 major surface combatants, outpacing the U.S. Navy’s 290 ships, while several new destroyers, cruisers, and amphibious ships are in various stages of construction at Chinese shipyards.
Beijing’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, is expected to enter service in 2025.
The Chinese air force is also growing, increasing production of its fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter, and is building a new assembly plant to prepare to further expand production. Around 1,300 of its 1,900 fighters are advanced, fourth-generation fighters that rival some of the most advanced jets being built in the U.S. and Europe.
While China has made huge strides in modernizing its military, corruption remains a problem.
The People’s Liberation Army “continues to struggle with deeply rooted problems of corruption,” the defense official said.
Fifteen “high ranking military officials and defense industry executives were removed from their posts for corruption,” last year, the person said. “Several were responsible for overseeing equipment development projects related to modernizing China’s ground based nuclear and conventional missiles.”
China has also lagged behind its material advances when it comes to developing a workable logistics plan for deploying its ships, aircraft, and troops too far from the mainland. That could limit its ability to project power beyond the South China Sea.