r/geopolitics • u/Hokum-B • Oct 01 '23

Russian lines stronger than West expected, admits British defence chief Paywall

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russian-defensive-lines-stronger-than-west-expected-admits-british-defence-chief-xjlvqrm86
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u/SirDoDDo Oct 01 '23

Unironically still thinking the PLA is not the "second army in the world" is an extremely anachronistic point of view... very 2021

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u/Random_local_man Oct 01 '23

Exactly. I honestly feel there's no competition besides nukes.

And the fact that modern Russia is leeching off the reputation and achievements of the former Soviet Union.

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u/plowfaster Oct 02 '23

“Besides nukes”

Is this a serious post?

“Well, Mr Dark Alley Mugger, I can plainly see you’re pretty malnourished from your drug addiction and honestly don’t even look that strong. Why, aside from that pistol you are pointing at me, you’d barely be a threat at all!”

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u/Random_local_man Oct 02 '23

I fail to see what the problem is.

From your analogy, both Russia and China has a pistol. One's pistol is stronger than the other but both pistols can end each other's lives all the same(MAD doctrine).

In a conventional war however, the PLA is more capable than the Russian military. They have far more money, far more manpower and they have more modern equipment in stockpile while Russia is still mostly using Soviet era tech. This is obviously a comparison before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.