US-China relations
China/Military

Lessons for Russia as China builds navy to rival US by 2049: Moscow think tank

Russia is studying how China is building military-industrial systems, co-author of report from state-backed think tank tells Russian media

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Russian International Affairs Council policy brief says PLA Navy “to achieve a combat potential comparable to the US Navy” by 2049, which is the centenary of the People’s Republic of China. Photo: AP
Victoria Bela

Published: 6:00am, 29 Jan 2025

China is seeking global leadership in key defence and military technologies amid fierce rivalry with the West – and Russia should learn from it, a Russian think tank has said.

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“By 2049, we can expect the PRC navy to achieve a combat potential comparable to the US Navy,” the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) said in a report earlier this month, using the acronym for China’s official name.

The year 2049 marks the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, by when it aims to have a “world-class military”.

People’s Liberation Army (PLA) advancements by then could include a significant number of aircraft carriers, ships carrying cruise missiles, and amphibious assault vessels, according to the RIAC report, whose title translates as “China 2049: A Futurological Analysis”.

China will also strive to gain a “decisive advantage in the most promising areas of military technology development”, including artificial intelligence (AI) and hypersonic systems, it said.

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China’s military power

The policy brief, examining China’s economic, diplomatic and defence potential based on current trends, was published on January 14.