The Brookings Institute had a good article about China’s hollow military. More recently I read a blog by a guy who lived in China for awhile and was able to observe Chinese culture first hand and had some interaction with enlisted personnel.
When you read that China is the third most powerful military in the world it doesn’t Necessarily mean they are great. After the US military there is a steep drop off to Russia and China. China’s annual defense budget is about 5% of ours. There is only one real super power in the world and it’s the United States.
The Brookings Institute be wary of the long-time leftist ‘think’ tank. Their China piece could well be disinformation