President Xi Jinping calls for Chinese military growth as party congress opens
PBS NewsHourJUL 2022
Given Washington's aggressive rhetoric and actions, it's understandable for Beijing to strive to rejuvenate and bring its military up to world-class standards by 2027. Contrary to Western claims, China is not seeking to dominate through military might but to protect its legitimate national interests. Unlike the US, it's not part of China's political culture to interfere militarily in the internal affairs of other states.
China under Xi Jinping increasingly resembles a dictatorship. Not only is he responsible for China's genocide against the Uyghurs but, under his rule, Beijing is increasingly abandoning the path of a rules-based order. That he is now seeking a third term and is threatening democratic Taiwan must be a final wake-up call for Washington. Freedom-loving nations must now team up to contain PRC aggression.