Ironically, the Chinese army is showing their stuff; effective and competent...very effective transport infrastructure....the Chinese military is a formidable force.
What the Chinese nationals find interesting is that the government is talking about what its army is doing. Such public discussion used to be very off limits.
Yes and no. Jane’s Defence (that’s how the Brits spell it) Weekly states the PLA (People’s Liberation Army, which encompasses aviation and naval branches as well) had 150 strategic fighter jets in 2000; by 2012, they will have more than 1500. They have also purchased at least one former Soviet nuclear sub and some European (maybe German?) built diesel subs. I believe they also have Kiev-class aircraft carriers. In photos, I noticed several Blackhawk helicopters, too. They are definitely a force with which to be reckoned.
That being said, there have been problems with getting equipment to the quake-ravaged areas. Although transport infrastructure is much better than 20 years ago, many roads have been damaged and others are clogged with the homeless and building debris.
Photo ops do not make for effectiveness. They are photogenic, and camera ready. What I find interesting is that the military honchos shown are consistently pudgy. The roads you see pictured are not representative - especially the ones from the official media. I have been on bone-rattling rides on dirt roads between relatively developed urban areas. (Although it has to be said that the roads between most cities and the provincial capitals are pretty good - it's the ones between non-capital cities that are iffy).