China's Strengths and Weaknesses: Contradictions Raise Questions on True Capabilities
• China portrays contradictory images - both weakness and strength - making it hard to determine the truth about its power.
• Recent purges of Chinese officials could signify real corruption crackdowns or power struggles, or they could be strategic deception.
• China is rapidly expanding military capabilities like shipbuilding despite economic troubles.
• China claims to cooperate on climate change while massively growing domestic coal power.
• Frequent Chinese military drills near Taiwan numb responses, much like Egypt did before attacking Israel in 1973.