Since Xi Jinping's rise to power, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been undergoing extensive reforms. From increasing defense spending, to investing in new technological capabilities and learning from Russia's war in Ukraine, China has been set on transforming its military into a top-tier force. In this episode, Meia Nouwens discusses China's road to military modernization under Xi Jinping as China's President as well as the chairman of the Central Military Commission.

This month's guest:Meia Nouwens is a Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy at IISS, specializing in China’s defence industry, military innovation, and regional strategic affairs. She leads research on China’s Digital Silk Road and previously co-led the China Security Project with MERICS. Before joining IISS, she worked for the European External Action Service in Taipei and New Zealand, as well as in private-sector consulting on foreign policy and defence. She holds degrees in international relations from Macquarie University and Leiden University, and an MPhil in modern Chinese studies from Oxford and Peking University.

See notes:

• Three Dates, Three Windows, and All of DOTMLPF-P
• China’s Military Modernisation: Recent Trends - 2024
• DOD Report Details Chinese Efforts to Build Military Power
• China’s Modernizing Military | Council on Foreign Relations