Commentary: Japan and Australia are teaming up to balance a formidable China
As Xi Jinping edges out his rivals in the Chinese Communist Party, shakes up his leadership team and begins an unprecedented third term as China’s leader, Beijing’s military modernization continues apace. In a span of two decades, China has transformed itself from a relatively minor player on the world stage into a formidable geopolitical force that is willing and able to pursue its interests aggressively. Xi’s objective, as stated in numerous documents and communiques, is none other than to turn the People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, into a world-class military by 2049.
