Russia Transformed China Into a Military Superpower

Key Points and Summary – Russia’s extensive military assistance over the past three decades has been instrumental in transforming China’s military from an outdated force into a modern powerhouse.

-Alarmed by US military dominance in the 1991 Gulf War, China turned to Russia, which supplied over 100 advanced combat aircraft like the Su-27 and Su-30, along with destroyers and submarines.

-China then reverse-engineered this technology to create its own platforms, such as the J-11 fighter.

-This partnership, now solidified by over 100 joint military exercises, has allowed China’s military to modernize rapidly, potentially creating a “monster” that now rivals its former mentor.

China: A Military Superpower Thanks to Russia 

Russia and China have not always been friends. However, without assistance from Moscow, the Chinese military would not have experienced such high levels of modernization.

This transformation occurred primarily over the last two decades, a process known as the “Revolution in Military Affairs.”

China has not fought a war since a short clash with Vietnam in 1979. There has always been a slight trepidation regarding how the Chinese could improve their defense forces organically without assistance from other countries. Russia has stepped into this void and has been a steadfast supplier of military hardware to the People’s Republic.

This dramatic refurbishment has increased Chinese confidence in defending the country to optimal levels.

Lessons Learned From American Military Might

China was alarmed about the United States’ success during Operation Desert Storm and the early days of the invasion against Iraq in 2003. The Americans used shock and awe, initial bombardment waves against the Iraqis with precision-guided munitions that were highly accurate and destructive.

Then the American armored attacks with M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles advanced with ease, destroying Iraqi assets with huge spearheads that created mass confusion in Saddam Hussein’s ranks.

The United States also used satellite imagery to great effect.

Americans never seemed surprised when forewarned with advanced intelligence from satellites. The Chinese also learned about joint warfare and combined arms practices from the United States. Xi Jinping’s generals and admirals now understand that cooperation among the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces—backed by nuclear weapons—will facilitate better advances in strategy, operational art, and tactics to win future wars.

Forging 21st Century Chinese Military Hardware

This strategic opportunity for a revolution in military affairs with Chinese characteristics would not have been possible without Russian support.

Russia has provided air defense systems, missile technology, and electronic warfare capabilities over the years, but it has been fighter jets that have dominated the re-supply effort from Moscow.

“According to data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between 1992 and 2014, Russia supplied China with over 100 combat aircraft, including Su-27 and Su-30 fighters. Russian specialists also contributed to the development of Chinese aircraft such as the J-10, JF-17, and L-15 trainer. Additionally, China received construction blueprints for the Su-27SK, leading to the licensed production of the J-11 in Shenyang starting in 1998. Leveraging this acquired knowledge, China later developed carrier-based fighters like the J-15, incorporating both Russian and Ukrainian aviation technology,” the Center for European Policy Analysis noted in a June report.

For the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the Russians have supplied destroyers, anti-ship missiles, and diesel-electric submarines.

There is also China’s first aircraft carrier, which was built by the former Soviet Union and never finished (and towed away from Ukraine). Later, various new carriers would be built based on this technology and vastly improved. Today, Russia can’t even keep one aircraft carrier at sea.

Absorbing Lessons from the War in Ukraine

Moreover, China’s army has learned many valuable lessons from the war in Ukraine. Defense personnel are aware that tanks have struggled and that missiles and drones have significantly hobbled armored combat, rendering many tanks useless.

Additionally, generals from the People’s Liberation Army are now aware that force-on-force combat can quickly devolve into trench warfare, creating stalemates. Unmanned aircraft can spot a massing of armor, making it challenging to achieve surprise. Then, anti-tank missile systems such as the Javelin and loitering “kamikaze” drones dive into tanks and armored personnel carriers. Old-fashioned artillery and newer multiple-launch rocket systems have created ample death and destruction on both sides.

China has learned that it will need vast numbers of infantry to reinforce the front, with many personnel remaining in reserve positions to fill gaps on the front lines. Tanks will need protection from drones, either from jamming systems or from lasers. Better armor on its tanks, especially on the top of the turret, is necessary for China to incorporate.

China Plays Dirty Pool

Those are battlefield tactics developed from the Russian experience, but what about technology transfer from Moscow? Much of this “revolutionary” technological know-how has originated from the Chinese, who have simply copied and reverse-engineered Russian systems. This is highly frustrating for the Kremlin as its ally is able to rip off its defense industrial base without proper compensation.

For example, China has taken the design of the Su-27 fighter jet and incorporated it into the J-11. The Chinese HQ-9 surface-to-air missile system bears a suspicious resemblance to the Russian S-300 and S-400.

Combined Military Exercises as Grand Strategy

However, Russia appears to have brushed aside these copycat practices and focused more on the strategic relationships between the two countries. This has resulted in over 100 joint military exercises, most of which have taken place since 2017. Both militaries love training together. This sends a message that China and Russia can project power and jointly dominate their neighborhoods.

The United States and NATO worry that the two militaries can create a formidable team that would spell complex contingencies for the West, especially as Russia could someday attack a NATO member and China could invade Taiwan.

This would place the free world into a difficult situation, having to deal with wars in Europe, the Middle East, and potentially in East Asia at once. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are pleased that the West must divert resources to different parts of the world and adjust priorities rapidly. The idea is to grind down American and European allies, who have been stretched thin granting the Ukrainians military aid. At the same time, Iran’s nuclear program and support of terrorists have forced the United States to answer Tehran with its own air force and navy. This keeps the Americans from prioritizing the Indo-Pacific.

On a personal level, the relationship between Putin and Xi is stronger than ever. Both leaders have described their friendship in glowing terms. They form an authoritarian axis, and their hostility toward democracy, individual freedom, and hatred of the West bring them closer together.

Xi knows that without Russian assistance, his military would never have evolved into a regional powerhouse. Putin is glad to have support in East Asia. Expect more weapons systems to be on the way as the countries ponder the future of warfare that relies on artificial intelligence, lasers, space capabilities, and quantum computing. Russia and China will collaborate closely on new technologies, while Moscow continues to supply China with legacy military systems, including ships, airplanes, and missiles.

More military exercises are expected to commence, and diplomatic relations between Xi and Putin are likely to intensify. Their alliance is stronger than ever, and military hardware exchanges have helped consummate the relationship. For China, the first revolution in military affairs brought the country into parity with the United States. With continued Russian assistance, China hopes to surpass the Americans. It could spark a second revolution, enabling China to have one of the world’s best militaries. Russia may have created a monster, and Xi couldn’t be more thankful.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.

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