Why China's £175 billion 'unstoppable' army is now the biggest threat to world order – and the West can't keep up
CHINA has built an unstoppable army under Xi Jinping's brutal dictatorship that poses the greatest threat to world order, experts warn.
As the West prepares for global conflict, Europe has trouble keeping up Beijing's formidable £175 billion army and nuclear arsenal.
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And experts have warned The Sun that while Europe is focusing on the raging war, Ukraine, China increases its ability to unleash the full might of its armed forces on an unsuspecting West.
The 70-year-old Xi Jinping, an authoritarian tyrant, has ruled China for more than a decade with an iron fist and has long set his sights on world domination.
Like his friend, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Xi jails those who criticize his regime and pours billions into developing new weapons to deter enemies.
British military think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) revealed this week that China's defense budget will be as much as £175 billion in 2023.
China's military power
Xi's army is the largest in the world with more than two million active troops.
China's ground forces, navy, air force and vast reserves make up its vast numbers – miles ahead of any other superpower military.
Even the US – second only to China – has a military of around 1.3 million active reserves.
China is rapidly expanding its military capabilities, including the development of new and innovative weapons
Professor Ashtok Swain, Uppsala University
China also has a fearsome nuclear arsenal, which has accelerated in recent years as more and more conflict has rocked the world order.
It is believed that Xi could now have around 500 nuclear warheads, with more on the way for future weapons of mass destruction.
Although Russia and the US have more (more than 5,000 each), experts fear that China's ability to pour money behind the scenes into new developments means the threat is somewhat hidden.
We cannot quantify what is happening in a country that is not very transparent. Our perception is that they may have an edge, if they are not already
Meia Nouwens, China expert at IISS
Meia Nouwens, China expert at the IISS, explained that the West will look to strengthen its war technology and weapons in light of China's impressive arsenal.
But Western countries fear that we will not be able to match China's formidable resources.
She told The Sun that China is able to “put a lot of money” into testing and developing new weapons, all behind a curtain of secrecy.
This “has to some extent led to uncertainty in the West about our own ability to do this,” Meia said.
“We cannot quantify what is happening in a country that is not very transparent.
“Our perception is that they might be ahead if they aren't already, which makes us unsure about keeping up and makes us feel like we need to figure things out faster.”
The Chinese nuclear arsenal
a Pentagon bomb report claimed last year that China planned to double its fearsome nuclear arsenal in just six years – meaning it could have enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world ten times over.
China also had a wide range of dubious allies, including Iran, Russia And Saudi Arabia – meaning that the expansion of its military and nuclear weapons stockpiles could be bolstered by relationships with other ruthless dictators.
And Ashok Swain, professor of peace and security at Uppsala University, told The Sun that while China has fewer nuclear weapons than the West or Russia, the country is “developing more powerful nuclear bombs and modernizing its delivery systems.”
“China is rapidly expanding its military capabilities, including the development of new and innovative weapons,” he warned.
The security analyst also told The Sun that while some countries in the West are working to increase their own military strength, progress so far has been “minimal” and focused on Russia rather than China.
They don't just develop new weapon systems. They deploy them and are to some extent pioneering
Robert Wall, IISS
He also explained that there is “considerable secrecy surrounding the capabilities of China's nuclear arsenal.”
Robert Wall, an IISS security expert, warned The Sun that China's weapons pose an even greater threat to the West than Russia – despite Putin's bloodthirsty attempts to absorb Ukraine.
He warned: “China is modernizing in absolutely every area, land, air and sea, and has made really great progress in some areas.”
Beijing, he explained, has for years overtaken Russia and the US first. Now they have been completely overtaken in some areas.
“They do it in a very strategic way, in a very deliberate way. And they don't just develop new weapon systems. They deploy them and are, to a certain extent, pioneering.”
China's advanced energy weapons have the potential to eliminate the West
Ashok Swain
Last year, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Vladimir Putin was “not even close” to how dangerous Xi is.
And Professor Swain warned of the threat China poses to conflict in space: “Within the next 10 to 15 years, China's air force and space technology could potentially surpass US capabilities.
“China's advanced energy weapons have the potential to disable the West by destroying or damaging satellites.”
Taiwan Threats and WW3
China's presence around Taiwan has increased in recent months as Xi's massive military taunts the islands with invasion rehearsals.
Beijing considers the self-governing island its own domain – and has pledged to take Taiwan by force if necessary.
However, Taiwan continues to insist that it is an independent nation after splitting from the mainland China in 1949.
Just a few weeks ago, Taiwan has elected Lai Ching-te as its new president –breaking the already tense relations between the countries.
Some experts believe China will use blockades to cut off the island from Western support until it relents. Others think Beijing will dump its forces on Taiwan's “red beaches.”
Security analysts at the IISS said this week that Beijing is increasing flights to Taiwan's air defense zone and nearby military activities, setting a precedent for possible action.
And the battle over Taiwan has strained US-China relations, exacerbating the threat to the West and the world order.
According to US intelligence estimates, Xi has ordered the Chinese military to be ready to annex Taiwan in 2027 – the centenary of Chairman Chaos' founding of the communist Red Army.
And General Sir Richard Barrons warned The Sun that there is fear of that One 'misunderstanding' could lead to 'uncontrolled escalation', leading to all-out war between China, Taiwan and the US.
While the threat of China bubbles up in the background, there is a constant simmering fear in the West about a possible third world war.
One of his more volatile allies, Iran is about to hold terrifying military exercises with both China and Russia within a few weeks in response to NATO's war games.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, China's Xi Jinping and Russian dictator Putin have already been compared to the 'Axis of Evil' of World War II.
With their combined nuclear power, formidable armies and hatred of Western life, the alliance poses a very real risk to the West.
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