PLA Being Prepared For War, Warns Expert

Domestic political compulsions might force Chinese President Xi Jinping to indulge in some increasingly belligerent steps, including some “adventurism’ on Taiwan “in the next three to five years,” believes Kalpit A Mankikar, Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and a specialist on China’s domestic politics.
Noting that most policies coming out of China since Xi was elected for an unprecedented third term in March 2023 had a 30 to 35 year timeline, he said it was clear that Xi was planning for the long haul, and to “justify that continuance, he has to deliver on Taiwan.”
“Look at the recent purges that are happening within the Communist system, the resonance of Xi’s anti-corruption rhetoric…” where he insists corruption cannot be allowed to dent the People’s Liberation Army, he said. “The whole idea is to instill a certain discipline there so that it becomes an army that is fit to fight a war.” After launching a massive drive to modernise the PLA, Xi has been touring all the military bases in the country asking his commanders asking them to be “ready for war.” China has also become more aggressive and militaristic.
Xi, who’s one of the strongest leaders to emerge in China, and often compared to Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, has been consistently pledging to his coterie that “I am here, and I can deliver on Taiwan,” said Mankikar. “And he needs to do this before his fourth term.”
The Chinese President had turned the South China Sea into China’s lake by launching a massive reclamation drive and staking claim to almost all its waters. And these reclaimed regions were quickly militarised despite pious promises not to, said Mankikar.
Dismissing theories that Xi would focus more on China’s economic troubles than fight a war over Taiwan in the short term at least, Mankikar said the Chinese Communist Party “is not a rational actor.”
Asked whether China’s domestic issues and the face off with the US over the South China Seas and the Indo-Pacific meant Xi was likely to be less adventurous along India’s border, Mankikar’s response was very clear. “Let’s remember China’s behaviour is not predictable. China has been an unpredictable actor in history, and not much has changed.” Therefore, “Under no situation can we afford to let our guard down.”
Mankikar, who was invited as an observer for the Presidential elections in Taiwan on 13 January 2024, felt that the average Taiwanese voter, while obviously anxious about the escalating threats from China, was more worried about ‘bread and butter’ issues like well-paying jobs and housing.
Watch the full interview to get more insightful details about the current situation in the South China Sea, and what it means for the region and the rest of the world.
#China #XiJinping #Taiwan #ChinaTaiwanTensions
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[@ravindersoi4654]

RUSSIA IS & WAS PREPARED FOR BODY BAGS COMING BACK. IS CHINA READY FOR BODY BAGS OF PEOPLE'S ARMY ???????

[@satyaprakash03133]

The invited author doesn't have the skills to describe things clearly or his answers seem shallow and lack the depth we expect. He seems to be in a bit of a hurry while raising questions. I have watched for 5 minutes and most of it was wasted because he stuttered a lot or maybe there was something he wanted to talk about but couldn't.

[@yasuynnuf1947]

Thank you for this discussion

[@shivasundar]

uhmmm, uhmmm

[@mohit-gf5bn]

Please always call some expert...not someone who just talk obvious things...he was just beating the bush..

[@satyaprakash03133]

First you should learn some etiquette to use phrases in their correct form.

[@golikeris.m.]

How is the ASIAN as a Block reacting to the aggressive move by PRC on Taiwan ?

[@satyaprakash03133]

First of all there's an ambiguity in the question you have asked. There is no clarity whether you want to know about Asian or ASEAN as a block. If we consider the later as a block then among bloc members, China has been the top source of arms for Cambodia and Myanmar for the past two decades and the second largest arms supplier to Laos, according to Stockholm international peace research Institute data. China also counts Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia as significant arms customers.
Beijing's goal is for ASEAN members to adopt its One China principle, under which they would recognize Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory. However, among ASEAN members, only Myanmar and Cambodia currently support this but it is worth noting though that even if ASEAN does not fully support China over Taiwan, the bloc is also not giving the U.S. what it is looking for. In their collective statement, the bloc's foreign ministers made no mention of democracy, human rights or the liberal international order.
Indeed, many ASEAN members are neither democratic nor liberal. ASEAN's main concerns are peace and stability. ASEAN can't afford to seek direct US engagement due to the fear of becoming a proxy in a great power competition.
Apart from those who's voice matters are India and Russia but given the fact Russia has become a pariah state because of the slapdash stance over Ukraine. So what we should do depends on our meticulous plan to influence the global power dynamics with keeping our national interest intact.

[@Red.bulldozer3]

Xi wants taiwan ,ladakh and arunachal pradesh. 😂

[@ash9x9]

after taiwan he will come to AP, LDHK.

[@naveenpalani3194]

how about india wants tibet

[@Red.bulldozer3]

@@naveenpalani3194 nice dreams 🤣

[@naveenpalani3194]

@@Red.bulldozer3 first you dream then turn them into reality ,
india must demand free transit for tibetians setteled in india as
a immediate meassure

[@Red.bulldozer3]

@@naveenpalani3194 will you urge your leaders to do that?😂
Hopefully yours is not wet dreams 🤣

[@ObetReyes]

Lie😊

[@vikrantdeshmukh1475]

Please provide subtitles

[@karanbhoir2441]

Jai hind

[@keungpang2176]

Warn expert.😂😂😂😂

[@jjohn6339]

That adventure would be good for the world. Xina becoming democratic free from the commi goons