Beyond training deficiencies, China’s military modernisation efforts have been crippled by corruption.
NEW DELHI: For years, China has projected an image of military invincibility, flaunting hypersonic missile tests, unveiling stealth fighter jets, and orchestrating grand military parades designed to impress the world. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with its vast personnel and deep state backing, is often perceived as a force capable of challenging the United States and its allies.
Yet, beneath the carefully curated spectacle lies an underwhelming reality—one defined by systemic weaknesses, unproven capabilities, and mounting strategic vulnerabilities. From unreliable weaponry, an ill-prepared conscript army, rampant corruption, and a lack of combat experience, China’s military remains more of a paper dragon than a formidable war machine.
TECHNOLOGICAL SHORTCOMINGS AND WEAPON FAILURES
China has carefully constructed an image of military dominance through state-controlled media, selective leaks of supposed technological breakthroughs, and aggressive propaganda. But the reality on the ground often tells a different story. While Beijing has invested heavily in its military-industrial complex, many of its advancements are reverse-engineered copies of foreign designs, struggling to match the quality and reliability of their Western counterparts.
The much-touted J-20 stealth fighter, often compared to America’s F-35, continues to suffer from engine limitations, avionics shortfalls, and questionable stealth capabilities. Reports indicate that China has yet to mass-produce its WS-15 engine, forcing it to rely on outdated Russian AL-31F engines, which significantly undercut the J-20’s performance in combat scenarios. Similarly, China’s hypersonic missile tests, while impressive in state-controlled narratives, remain unproven in actual warfare. Many of these weapons have not been tested under battlefield conditions, raising doubts about their reliability.
CHINA’S STRUGGLES IN THE GLOBAL ARMS MARKET
China’s efforts to become a major arms exporter have been plagued by complaints of poor quality, frequent malfunctions, and high maintenance costs. Many nations that opted for Chinese military equipment due to lower costs have encountered significant reliability issues. Pakistan, China’s closest military client, has repeatedly reported engine failures, avionics malfunctions, and structural weaknesses in its fleet of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
Bangladesh’s Navy suffered severe mechanical failures in its newly acquired Chinese-built frigates, forcing costly repairs within just months of commissioning. Myanmar’s Air Force had to ground eleven Chinese-made JF-17 jets in 2022 due to radar and structural defects that made them unsafe for operational use. Nigeria’s Air Force was forced to return multiple Chinese F-7 fighter jets after persistent engine failures made them unreliable.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China’s arms exports declined by 7.8% between 2016 and 2020, with a 23% drop in value from 2013-2017 to 2018-2022. This downward trend has not really gotten any better and reflects a growing realisation among global buyers that Chinese weapons are cheaper but highly unreliable.
PLA’S CONSCRIPT WEAKNESS VS INDIA’S PROFESSIONAL ARMY
A strong military is not built on numbers alone. The PLA relies on a conscript-heavy model, with nearly 400,000 new recruits annually serving for just two years before being rotated out. This leads to a lack of battlefield cohesion, limited training cycles, and weak operational continuity, all of which reduce the PLA’s ability to fight prolonged wars.
By contrast, the Indian Army is an all-volunteer force, steeped in regimental traditions and honed by decades of counterinsurgency and high-altitude warfare experience. India’s soldiers are trained for sustained deployments in extreme conditions—something the PLA lacks.
This was evident in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, where Indian troops, conditioned by years of Himalayan deployments, held their ground despite being outnumbered. The PLA soldiers, unaccustomed to hand-to-hand combat in harsh environments, suffered heavy casualties and withdrew. While the exact numbers of Chinese casualties are not known as a result of being kept hidden by Beijing, reports indicate the body count to be far higher.
ENDEMIC CORRUPTION IN THE PLA
Beyond training deficiencies, China’s military modernisation efforts have been crippled by widespread corruption. Investigations have revealed a deeply entrenched system of bribery, fraud, and kickbacks that has compromised the PLA’s operational effectiveness. A 2023 investigation found that PLA missile inventories included defective weapons; in some cases, missiles were filled with water instead of fuel.
Two consecutive Chinese defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, were removed amid corruption scandals, raising concerns about how much of China’s military budget is being siphoned away by senior officials. Promotions within the PLA are often secured through bribes rather than merit, resulting in unqualified officers leading critical military units. Despite Xi Jinping’s decade-long anti-corruption drive, PLA corruption remains endemic, affecting military procurement, battlefield readiness, and the lack of a merit-based military leadership structure.
CHINA’S HESITATION TO ESCALATE AGAINST INDIA
Despite its aggressive rhetoric, China has avoided escalating its conflict with India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The reason is China’s inability to sustain high-altitude warfare and its logistical vulnerabilities in the Himalayas. Unlike the Indian Army, which maintains a year-round presence at high altitudes, PLA troops rotate in and out due to acclimatisation difficulties.
Reports indicate that many Chinese soldiers suffer from altitude sickness and cold-weather injuries, further weakening their ability to engage in prolonged conflicts. Moreover, while India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has built extensive infrastructure—bridges, roads, and airstrips—to maintain supply lines, China struggles to sustain logistics in Tibet. In the event of a war of attrition, India holds the upper hand in sustaining troop movements and supplies.
TWO-FRONT DILEMMA: TAIWAN AND INDIA
China’s military ambitions are constrained by its two-front dilemma, having to prepare for a potential Taiwan invasion while maintaining forces along the Indian border. The Pentagon’s 2023 China Military Report noted that diverting PLA forces to the Indian border weakens China’s deterrence capabilities against Taiwan and the US Navy. India’s growing defence cooperation with the Quad alliance, comprising the US, Japan, and Australia, increases regional deterrence against Chinese aggression. A prolonged border conflict with India could overstretch China’s military resources, limiting its ability to focus on maritime expansion in the Indo-Pacific.
XI JINPING’S OVEREXTENDED AMBITIONS
Xi Jinping has staked his leadership on China’s rise as a global military power, yet the PLA’s failures are mounting. The inability to impose a new status quo on India, combined with growing concerns over corruption and operational inefficiencies, exposes the fragility of Beijing’s military ambitions. Meanwhile, China’s economic slowdown, coupled with declining foreign investment and a real estate crisis, is straining its military budget. For all of China’s aggressive posturing, its ability to sustain a prolonged military engagement remains highly questionable.
A POWER BUILT ON ILLUSIONS
China’s military may look formidable in state-controlled media, but the reality is far less imposing. The PLA’s combat effectiveness is highly questionable, as it has unreliable weapons, an inexperienced conscript army, endemic corruption, and severe logistical challenges. In modern warfare, victories are secured by experienced soldiers, reliable equipment, resilience and astute military leadership from the tactical to strategic level—qualities India’s military possesses in abundance. In contrast, China’s military remains a paper dragon, vulnerable to exposure when tested in actual combat.
*Ashish Singh is an award-winning senior journalist with over 18 years of experience in defence & strategic affairs