Zhou Bo, a retired senior colonel of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Centre for International Security and Strategy, shared insights on China’s military modernization goals in an interview first published by SCMP Plus.

China has established two major military milestones: the centenary of the PLA in 2027 and the centenary of the People’s Republic of China in 2049. Between these dates, China aims to modernize its national defense and armed forces by 2035. However, Zhou noted that by 2027, the PLA will not yet be fully modernized according to China’s own high standards.

The ultimate objective is to build a world-class military by 2049. Zhou highlighted that if only one country is considered to have a world-class military, it is the United States. But if multiple countries can hold that status, China is already the second-strongest military power globally.

This assessment comes amid ongoing competition with the US and broader regional security concerns, including the Taiwan issue.

Sources