China is on course to its continuous ascent as one of the world's largest military powers, as the country's military puts its newest J-20 stealth fighter into service and works on developing a first-class Chinese navy to add more aircraft carriers, frigates, and destroyers seeking to ensure order in its waters.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered a wholesale modernization program for China's military forces, as the world's second-largest economy cultivates a more assertive approach to international relations, particularly in the realm of security.
Although China has stressed that it does not intend to cause hostile actions, its military buildup nonetheless rings alarm bells for many of its neighbors, most notably Japan and South Korea. Ensuring regional stability, in that regard, has become a question on whether China gets intimidated.
Nonetheless, China's hard-power capabilities continue to push its programs aiming to develop the Chinese military, with the J-20 stealth fighter being a welcome addition. Yet, questions remain on the new stealth jet's true capabilities, and whether it can exceed the U.S.' Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in air combat.
Apart from building strength in the air, China prioritizes its maritime forces amid the volatile situation it faces on its immediate waters. The South China Sea is particularly ridden with controversies, what with the atolls therein figuring in a tussle between China and the Philippines.
China's assertion of its "nine-dash line" over the South China Sea puts all eyes on the country's ongoing efforts to build a first-class Chinese navy. Continuous weaponization of China's maritime forces focuses on overtaking the U.S.' shipbuilding capabilities, which President Donald Trump pledged to improve.
All in all, while China's defense spending is formally pegged at around the same amount as a quarter of U.S.' military expenditures, the Chinese military's drastic improvement somewhat belies official figures. Such has had a chilling effect on China's neighbors, despite the country's denial of a regional threat.