1 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: If it doesn't work, you're just not using enough. You're 2 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: listening to Software Radio, Special Operations, military news and straight 3 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 1: talk with the guys and the community. Hello again, everyone, 4 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Software Bradio. Software Bradio on Time on Target. 5 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: I'm your host today, Steve Balistarie joining me. We have 6 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,319 Speaker 1: a co host, which is always nice to have. It's 7 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: always nice to have some support here. Sean spont from 8 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: Software Our new editor in chief is U joining us 9 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: today and we're going to be talking very shortly with 10 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: somebody that we've talked to in the past. Dennis Blasco 11 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: is a retired lieutenant colonel out of the U. S. Army. 12 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: Was just under i believe twenty five years service as 13 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: a military intelligence officer and a foreign area officer. He 14 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: specialized in China, which we're going to be talking about today. 15 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: He served in infantry units in Germany, Italy and Korea, 16 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: as well as d C at the d i A 17 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: Headquarters and the Army Office of Special Operations. From ninety 18 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: two to ninety six, he was the Army out of 19 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:44,839 Speaker 1: Shay in Beijing and Hong Kong. So Dennis is our 20 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: subject matter expert when it comes to talking about China 21 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: and Chinese I guess yeah, influences that are going on 22 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: right now, and we're gonna be talking about China and 23 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: Taiwan specifically. But before we do that, I just need 24 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: to read you, guys to add from one of our sponsors. 25 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: Hey again, everybody, Steve Balustrade here. I want you to 26 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: know about this new app. It's called the How We 27 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: Reach Coaching Tool downloaded and learn how to reach out 28 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 1: to friends that are going through a hard time. And 29 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: as we all know, there's you know, way too many 30 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: soldier suicides going on and in the military, and that's 31 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: what this is all about. Thanks to the app, you 32 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: can get helpful and information on how to talk to 33 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: friends who are struggling and can help them find the 34 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: help that they deserve, because we all need helps and 35 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: support sometimes. Go to R E A c H dot 36 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: gov that's reached dot gov to learn the steps everyone 37 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: can take to prevent suicide. Check out the How We 38 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: Reach Coaching tool today and download it and please reach 39 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: out to your friends who might be suffering right now. 40 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: With that being said, let's get to our guests right now. 41 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 1: Sean and I would like to welcome Dennis Glasco back 42 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: to the Software dot Com podcast and Uh, Dennis, once again, 43 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: thanks for taking the time this afternoon. It's a beautiful 44 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: day in the neighborhood. Let's talk some Chinese. Well, thank 45 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: you very much, happy to be here. Yeah. So there's 46 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,679 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff in the news, and we hear 47 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 1: about it all the time about you know, the Chinese 48 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: acting very aggressive towards the Taiwanese and it seems to 49 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: be increasing. Um. You know, we hear about incursions in 50 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: their airspace, you know, every day, it seems like. So, 51 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: what's your take on this whole Taiwanese you know Chinese uh, 52 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: you know situation, as the Chinese soldiers actually preparing to 53 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: invade there or is this just posturing. Well, there's a 54 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: lot to unpack in that question, and so we should 55 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: probably but one step at of time. Uh, But let's 56 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: talk first about the Chinese actual um, at least they're 57 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: stated uh preferences and national strategy. UH. And indeed, reunification 58 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: with Taiwan is probably at the very top of their 59 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:43,119 Speaker 1: objectives uh, to achieve sometime in the future. Uh. There's 60 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: been a lot of talk recently about exactly when that 61 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: time frame is for achieving unification. But UH in reality 62 00:04:55,760 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: that's UH. There may be some signs on walls someplace, 63 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: but at least UM openly, I'm not seeing them consistently 64 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: say that there is a set date for us to 65 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: achieve unification. And unification has looked at as one of 66 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: the very important elements of what they call the rejuvenation 67 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: of of China UH, making UH China into one of 68 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: the uh yeah large countries, top top players and in 69 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 1: all elements politically, diplomatically, militarily, economically, etcetera. UH, and and 70 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: generally that goal for that that that they have stated 71 00:05:55,640 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: has been more towards mid century or two nine, which 72 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: would be the hundred anniversary of the founding of the 73 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: People's Republic of China UH. In UM so, like I said, 74 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: reunification is a main goal, but they would prefer to 75 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 1: do it peacefully. They would prefer to UM basically in 76 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: the civil war UH peacefully because they they certainly could 77 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: punish Taiwan right now or in any time into the future, 78 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: but they would much rather have a UM a non 79 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: hostile takeover. Unfortunately, the trends are not looking good for that, 80 00:06:54,520 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: but UM that officially is there UH. Their position Sian 81 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: and militarily. Their main of objective at this time is 82 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: to deter to be able to show UH China's capability 83 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: and willingness to use force to deter further steps towards 84 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: UH independence by Taiwan. So UH deterrence is right now 85 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: one of the main elements of everything that we're seeing 86 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: the Chinese do. Sean Welcome, I mean Mr Moscow, welcome 87 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: to the show. It's very nice to have you with 88 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: us again. It was nice to meet you at the 89 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: symposium two weeks ago. Very interesting, very interesting talking again 90 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: before we came on today, we were talking a little 91 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: bit about a recent news item about the Chinese Army 92 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: looking to increase the masculinity of their force. You had 93 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: a very interesting observation about the changing demographic of the 94 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: the Chinese Army relative to their conscription service. I was 95 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: wondering if you might share that with the audience right well, 96 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: as you know that the Chinese Army still UH is 97 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: a conscript army, conscript military, and I estimated probably about 98 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 1: a third of the two million active duty personnel either 99 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 1: volunteer or if they don't volunteer UH, they are conscripted 100 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: to serve two years um and part of the general 101 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: trends in China over the past forty years or so 102 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: has been a move away from UH the rural farming 103 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: areas and moving into the big city at ease. And 104 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: as the UH population has moved into the cities and 105 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 1: the economy has really taken off and China has gotten richer, 106 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: many fewer people are working in the fields in UM 107 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: in China UM and a whole lot more are living 108 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: the relatively UH and and for most Chinese the good 109 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: life in the cities. And one of the things that 110 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 1: they actually we've seen them complain about this for literally 111 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: the past twenty years or more, was that more and 112 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: more of their new recruits, whether they volunteer or whether 113 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: they're conscripted involuntarily, UH, just aren't the same sturdy, hardy 114 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: folk that they used to have that came out of 115 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: the the fields in rural China for the first you know, 116 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 1: well for almost all of the last century in the UH. SO, 117 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: what they're seeing is as UH China has gotten richer 118 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: UH in many cases, the younger people have gotten sort 119 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: of fat and happy and aren't accustomed to hardships in 120 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: the same way that the old rural youth used to be. 121 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 1: And so I think a lot of the discussion right 122 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: now is just a continuation of this trend that's sort 123 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: of is seen a lot more Chinese youth being disqualified 124 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: for not being able to do the proper amount of 125 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: push ups, for having bad eyesight, being too fat. Uh, 126 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: big problems. Yeah, you know, and changed, they've changed the 127 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: standards over the years. They've allowed uh shall we say, 128 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: larger people to come on active duty. Um, but then 129 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: you know they put them through the ringer in basic 130 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 1: training and uh, you know they end up having to 131 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: run run their three kilometers five kilometers, do their sit ups, 132 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: push ups, whatever. And uh the last statistic I saw 133 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: was several maybe a decade or so ago, but they 134 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: talked to like about dropping out during basic training. I 135 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 1: wouldn't be surprised if that's even higher now, m Um. 136 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: You know when you yeah, and and number one, when 137 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: you are already recruiting every year, you have to bring 138 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: in one third of UM or one third of your 139 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: force is um conscripts. That means half of one third 140 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: or um of two million is what five hundred thousand 141 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 1: or so. That's a lot of folks you've got to recruit. Uh. 142 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: So they uh, that they have a large population obviously. Uh. 143 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: But again this all it also relates back to the 144 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: one child policy. Uh that families only had one we're 145 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: allowed to have one child. So there's uh fewer of 146 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: them for one thing. And then one of the things 147 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: that we used to see them constantly talking about was 148 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: because they were one child and they had two parents 149 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: and oftentimes four grandparents, they were doated on and so 150 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: again you know, they were given candies and soft drinks 151 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: and whatever, and you know, the many folks consider them 152 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: to be, you know, to be soft. So coming into 153 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: the military is a big change for a lot of 154 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: these folks. H Um. You know, they really have to 155 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: work the way up to meet the minimal military requirements. 156 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: In terms of us, it's something like a significant it's 157 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,079 Speaker 1: going to be a significant problem in China because they 158 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: have I think something like seventy million surplus males in 159 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: that country. Um, you know, exceeding the population of females 160 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: is a seventy million person imbalanced their and thing from 161 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 1: the male populations. So for them to have problems that 162 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: are showing up being able to conscript people who meet 163 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: the sort of physical requirements they want to see, for 164 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: their military. It sounds like it's a significant problem. I'd 165 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: like to ask a follow up on that end, ask 166 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: if you have any of you on how the the 167 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: Taiwanese having problems like this too, How would you put 168 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: the Thaiwanese soldier up against the Chinese soldiants of comparison 169 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: and fighting ability and that? Well, again, I don't follow Taiwan, 170 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: but from what I have heard, uh, Taiwan number one, 171 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: I believe also has sort of a draft or conscription, 172 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: But I believe they're only conscripted for like four months 173 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: or something, right, and so it's a very short period 174 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: of time. Perhaps more people cycle through um or a 175 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: larger percentage of the younger population cycles through the military, 176 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: but you know, whatever period of time they're in is 177 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: hardly sufficient to really move up the professional uh chain, 178 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: to to be able to do something more than put 179 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: your uniform on, no when to salute and know how 180 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: to you know, shoot a twenty meter target. So kind 181 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: of like the kind of like the Swiss conscription system, 182 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: I'm very ever trying to make everybody into a reservist 183 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: and have sort of basic military training. It might be 184 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: a little bit different than that, but uh, yeah, you know, 185 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: and I don't know what the the Taiwan of the 186 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: policy on Taiwan for having guns in your house is, 187 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: but that I think is a major component of the 188 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: Swiss militia, you know, has their weapons in the house. 189 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: I don't think that's the case in on and and 190 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: literally one of the major questions about the whole China 191 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: Taiwan military balanced situation is the willingness of the Taiwan 192 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: people to resist and uh, how willing are they to 193 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: fight and to endure the hardships that will certainly come 194 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: if uh if if an actual war started. And I 195 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: think again my personal analysis is that the p l 196 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: A and China would prefer not to have that war 197 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 1: fought because it would lay waste to a large part 198 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: of Taiwan. Either way, when loser draw, a lot of 199 00:16:55,840 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: Taiwan would be UH would be very severely damaged. And um, 200 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: they want to take it all in one piece. I'm sorry, 201 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: I said they'd like to take it all in one piece, 202 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: wouldn't Well, they would prefer yeah much. They would much 203 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: prefer to be able to maintain Number one, the economic 204 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: You know, there's a huge flow economically back and forth 205 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: between UH, Taiwan and the mainland, and both sides are economics. 206 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 1: UH do a lot of trading and do and in 207 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,959 Speaker 1: many ways dependent on the other. Uh. So if you, 208 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: you know, break the economic back of Taiwan, which would 209 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: be one way to move towards unification, you then have 210 00:17:54,480 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: to rebuild Taiwan, and uh that doesn't sound like an 211 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: attractive option for them. If they could achieve their goals 212 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: without having to destroy are you know, literally killed the 213 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 1: good golden goose? Well, I wonder about that too, because 214 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: I'd like to know what you think about the comparison 215 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 1: between the People's Liberation Army and the people People's Liberation 216 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: Army navy arm whether you think there's a difference in 217 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: the quality of the personnel between those two benches of service, 218 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 1: and looking at China's development of a six ownership navy, 219 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 1: I I wonder if they couldn't find an in between 220 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 1: on invading Taiwan and instead have a navy big enough 221 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: to enforce a blockade that would compel them to surrender. 222 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:52,360 Speaker 1: I wonder, I wonder what you think about that. Yeah, well, 223 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: the navy actually is different than the than the army 224 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: in that Uh, the navy has a much larger percentage 225 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: of n c o s, And in fact, the Navy 226 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 1: itself says that it of its personnel or n c 227 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: o s, which means that conscripts are much fewer in 228 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: the Navy, much smaller percentage, and on the front line 229 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: ships and submarines they say that they're n c o 230 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: s comprised roughly of the crew. So what that means 231 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: is compared to say, the infantry, UM or some rocket 232 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:47,360 Speaker 1: forces or artillery or whatever which have a could have 233 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 1: of their unit as conscripts, the Navy has many, uh 234 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 1: much smaller percentage of conscripts, so it could mean can 235 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: maintain a higher level of operational readiness and actually be 236 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: out at sea with its officers and n c o 237 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: s and fewer conscripts much more often than um. Most 238 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: ground units can be out there training because ground units 239 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: are basically trying to get their conscripts ready to take 240 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: part as part of the squad, platoon, battalion, whatever, Whereas 241 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: the ships can maintain a higher level of readiness than 242 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: there um their brothers in arms on the ground. And 243 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 1: you see that not only in ships but also in 244 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: the p l A aviation air both Air force aviation 245 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 1: units and naval aviation units which have higher percentages of 246 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: officers and CEOs, which then again means that those units 247 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 1: can can train more often, reach higher levels of unit 248 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: readiness and UM, and do things like they've been doing 249 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: for the past several years flying around Taiwan, uh, you know, 250 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 1: sailing around Taiwan and in various other places. They can 251 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 1: do that because they are less dependent on the conscripts. 252 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: Does it remind you of the Soviet Union's naval model 253 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: that that sounds similar to me? They had a very 254 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: high percentage of n c o s and sort of 255 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: performed the core of the navy, and then they were 256 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: bringing in the conscripts to do you know, the chipping 257 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: and the painting and the cleaning. Is it? Does it 258 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: strike he is being similar in many ways. I look 259 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: at the two years the conscripts spend on on active 260 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: duty is basically an apprenticeship, and if they prove that 261 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: they are fit enough, smart enough, have the political um, 262 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 1: the right political thinking, uh, then they can be asked 263 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: to stay and become an n c O or maybe 264 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: even go to an officer school. Uh so Uh. In 265 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: the Navy, I think they are Navy and Air Force 266 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: both are able to maintain those higher levels of operations. 267 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: But at the same time, UH, they're also they've also 268 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:40,360 Speaker 1: been getting large numbers of new equipment, more advanced equipment. 269 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: So much of the Navy and Air forces time has 270 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: been spent MHM integrating the new equipment into units and 271 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: obtaining unit proficiencies, whether in the air or at sea. 272 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: And a lot of what we're seeing UH, in my opinion, 273 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 1: while it can be used to send a message to 274 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 1: Taiwan and the United States, Japan or other countries along 275 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,399 Speaker 1: the South China Sea, a lot of what we are 276 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 1: seeing is UH routine training which is then UH publicized 277 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: and propagandized for both internal and external consumption. And so 278 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: it's very important to look at what what all this 279 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: training the that gets noticed UH and publicized and see 280 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: what is actually being done in that training. It's a 281 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: very good question. And Steve and I were talking about 282 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 1: that last metal Filondum and Steve pointed out to me 283 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: that approximately of their training day is taken up by 284 00:23:58,040 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: political indoctor nation. I was wonting if know if that 285 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: is correct, and what is their typical training day like 286 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 1: is a ten hour or twelve hour or eight hour 287 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: UM that's a that's a day of a week in 288 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: the typical search numbers. You know, UH day in the 289 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: United States on an eight hour shift during two hours 290 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: of two hours of political indoctrination day isn't know what 291 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 1: you're thinking about that, right? The actual regulations call for 292 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: twenty of a unit's training time to be devoted to 293 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 1: political and inductor ideological training. And many years ago I 294 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: asked UH an officer, well, which units have and which 295 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: units have and of the answer I got and you 296 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: know this is a h just one, it's one data point. 297 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: He said. It's more likely, UH that the more advanced 298 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: units would would spend of time training while the UH 299 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 1: units that would have to spend more time in maintenance. 300 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: Shall we say, older equipment might spend more time. But yes, 301 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,120 Speaker 1: whether it's twenty or thirty percent, it's still a lot 302 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: of time UH spent reading newspapers, singing songs, watching television, 303 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: you know, UH making sure that the people are are 304 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 1: understand what the history of the party, their responsibility of 305 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: the party, and UH in our loyal UH. What they're 306 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: doing in that period of time is trying to improve 307 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 1: morales so much that they can depend on the soldiers. 308 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: Officers and c o s and conscripts to to follow 309 00:25:55,760 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 1: orders when when called upon. So uh, we may uh, 310 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 1: and that this twenty doesn't mean, you know, it has 311 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: to all happen on one one full day. Uh, but 312 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 1: there can be political training during downtime between doing tables 313 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 1: on a firing range or something. Uh. And a lot 314 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,400 Speaker 1: of it, you know, a lot of its singing, dancing 315 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 1: things like that. So it's in some ways it's um, 316 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: it's sort of rest and relaxation, um, making sure you're 317 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 1: a good communist along the way. Well, I don't, I don't, No, 318 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,640 Speaker 1: I'm trying to go ahead. No, I'm just saying from 319 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: you know, I think any battalion and brigade commander that 320 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:56,399 Speaker 1: I ever worked for would be very upset if he 321 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: were told to to spend scent of his time doing 322 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff. Yeah, imagine. Well, I don't know 323 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: the last time I heard anything about any defection from 324 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: the Chinese military. So I guess it's effective. I guess 325 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: they're they're doing pretty good at keeping the people in line. 326 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 1: And do you have any information on that, whether there's 327 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: a problem with defection desertions within the Change military. Yeah, Well, 328 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:26,360 Speaker 1: they're just recently a couple of months ago there were 329 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 1: there was a report I forget whether it was one 330 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: person or several persons who had been conscripted but then 331 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: basically refused to do anything. Um and uh takes courage. Yeah, 332 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 1: And basically he was put on trial or they were 333 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 1: put on trial and um kicked out of the military. Uh. 334 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:53,920 Speaker 1: They could not work for the government, they could not 335 00:27:54,720 --> 00:28:00,040 Speaker 1: get any benefits, they cannot travel. UM. It really a 336 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: sort of limited their options, shall we say. Uh. But 337 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 1: as for desertions, I know of one twenty years ago. UM, 338 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: but I haven't seen much of that lately. And we're 339 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: talking with Dennis Blasco here on Software Bradio. We're talking 340 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 1: about Chinese military uh and possible, you know, confrontation with Taiwan. 341 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 1: But before we go any further, I just wanted to 342 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: read a quick add from one of our sponsors. Once again. 343 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 1: Check out our How We Reach coaching tool. It's a 344 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 1: free app you can download at r e c H 345 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 1: dot gov. That's r e c H dot gov. You'll 346 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: find steps everyone can take to prevent suicide, reach for support, 347 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 1: reach to those who need help, and download the how 348 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: we Reach app at r H dot gov. That's r 349 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 1: h dot gov today. Thank you, Dennis. Getting back to this, 350 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 1: I wanted to kind of turn the clock back. The 351 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 1: last time we spoke. You know, we talked about this 352 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: Chinese military and right now, you know it's uh, obviously 353 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: with the amount of people they have and the modernization 354 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,600 Speaker 1: of the air force and ships, they're they're obviously a 355 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: formidable adversary. But you know, we also talked about that 356 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 1: conscript army and you you touched on it earlier about 357 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: you know, a third of their force really turns over 358 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 1: every year. And I mean does that, um, does that 359 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 1: turnover I want to say, I want to ask you 360 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: does that turnover really affect how how well these units 361 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 1: can be trained, especially within the army. Yes? Absolutely, uh. 362 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: I think. Well, one thing that is different though than 363 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: our military, in addition to the on the whole conscription idea, 364 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: is that officers and n c o s, on the 365 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: other hand, will stay in the same unit for ten 366 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 1: twelve years. Um. So while the conscripts are turning over 367 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: every year in large numbers, you do have a backbone 368 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 1: of officers and n c o s who do learn 369 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: to to work together over the over that same period 370 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: of time. But to me, much of what they must 371 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: feel like it's groundhog Day, because you know, just as 372 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 1: they get one batch of new recruits integrated into their squad, 373 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: platoon or company, then another half of the conscripts demobilize 374 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 1: and they go through the same cycle again. And so 375 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 1: every year UH, in what I call, like I said, 376 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 1: the conscript heavy units. UH, they are working to primarily 377 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 1: to establish squad, platoon, company, and at best battalion proficiencies. 378 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: And this has especially been true UH in the past 379 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: four years, since they've totally revamped their organization in and 380 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:43,200 Speaker 1: they went to a much more combined arms structure than 381 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:48,640 Speaker 1: they had been before, and so in many units were 382 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: completely changed. Many personnel were told, well, you used to 383 00:31:56,240 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: be artillery, you're now recon or year now an engineer. Uh. 384 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: They had their ms changed just overnight without any formal training. UH. 385 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 1: So a lot of these things have had a major 386 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 1: impact for the past four years. And it's only now 387 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:25,040 Speaker 1: that they're being being beginning to come uh to establish 388 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: some of these UH proficiencies at battalion level and beginning 389 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 1: to do larger exercises. UM. The the number of large 390 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 1: exercises that went on prior to the the reforms Uh, 391 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 1: numbered in the dozens every year for several years, but 392 00:32:54,840 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 1: after reforms that that number dropped down to single jets. 393 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 1: But now I'm expecting that number of larger exercises to 394 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:12,240 Speaker 1: start um increasing again as the new units have learned 395 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 1: how to establish their new proficiencies as required under their 396 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:23,959 Speaker 1: new organization, new doctrine, and oftentimes with new equipment. Yeah, Dennis, 397 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:26,760 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask you about something, and again this 398 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:30,280 Speaker 1: goes back to what we talked about, you know before, 399 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 1: and that's uh, you know, the the Chinese really haven't 400 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 1: had a any kind of military I guess combat experience 401 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 1: since that brief uh foray into Vietnam that I believe 402 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: it was in the nineteen seventy nine or night um 403 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 1: seventy nine. It was okay, Yeah, and the Chinese themselves 404 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 1: talk about what they call peace disease for their military. 405 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: Is this something that they are really concerned about in 406 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:08,239 Speaker 1: Are they going to try to rectify that somewhere? So? No, 407 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:13,399 Speaker 1: they certainly are. Again, I just read an article two 408 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:18,680 Speaker 1: days ago that talked about uh, that exact problem, uh 409 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:23,880 Speaker 1: and they and it was with regard to their university 410 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:31,080 Speaker 1: uh curriculum. Uh. Basically what they what the battalion commanders 411 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:39,040 Speaker 1: are telling the university, the p l A academies is 412 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:44,760 Speaker 1: that you're not training us for for our new jobs. 413 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, we were in this new organization, 414 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:54,759 Speaker 1: but the curriculum is like it was before we we 415 00:34:56,040 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 1: we reorganized. Right now they are trying to change those 416 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:09,760 Speaker 1: curriculum the curriculum and better educate and train their officers 417 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:12,800 Speaker 1: and n c o s to do these things. And 418 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:16,719 Speaker 1: especially in the army, they're looking at doing it now 419 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:22,359 Speaker 1: at battalion level, when previously the regiment was the level 420 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 1: that did independent operations, but now they're trying to push 421 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:31,120 Speaker 1: that down onto battalions. And it's only been within the 422 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: past few years or so that they even given battalion 423 00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:41,560 Speaker 1: commanders of staff. That staff is maybe five or six 424 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:46,400 Speaker 1: full time people, which is i'd say pretty light for 425 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:52,399 Speaker 1: uh if you're going to try to do seven high 426 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 1: intensity combined arms operation at battalion level. So I think 427 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 1: eventually they're going to find that they need to get 428 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 1: bigger staffs at battalion level, UH and better trained officers 429 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,520 Speaker 1: and n c o s to do this staff work. 430 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 1: And again, I think this is one of the things 431 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:15,320 Speaker 1: that we have uh, well, we may we the United 432 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:20,240 Speaker 1: States military may not have fought up here competitor anytime recently. 433 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:27,960 Speaker 1: Our staffs have done this planning and adaptation uh necessary 434 00:36:28,120 --> 00:36:31,799 Speaker 1: on the battlefield in periods of high stress, for extended 435 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:36,839 Speaker 1: lengths of time, and I look at that as as 436 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:41,880 Speaker 1: one of our asymmetric advantages. Yeah. You know, one of 437 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: the things that I read recently is that you know 438 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:49,040 Speaker 1: the p l A in there, you know, mark I 439 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:54,680 Speaker 1: guess modernization, Uh, you know programs that they're running, they're adapting, 440 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 1: I guess, and they're being heavily influenced by Russian doctrine 441 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 1: and with full structure and equipment and stuff like this. 442 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:08,120 Speaker 1: Is that something that you believe in or or is it? 443 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:12,839 Speaker 1: Are they going to their own? Well, they study, they 444 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:17,480 Speaker 1: studied Us, they study the Russians, they study anybody that 445 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:23,360 Speaker 1: has had recent combat experience. But they they have a 446 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:29,320 Speaker 1: very close relationship, which we are encouraging. And this is 447 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 1: not something I think we should be doing. But uh, 448 00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:37,800 Speaker 1: the the way that we're lumping Russia and China together 449 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:43,640 Speaker 1: sort of encourages them to uh to cooperate more. And uh, 450 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:49,080 Speaker 1: the Russians have trained a lot with the Chinese. They've 451 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 1: probably been well, they certainly have been their single uh 452 00:37:54,200 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: most frequent UH foreign training partner, and the Russians UH 453 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:05,960 Speaker 1: are indeed trying to help the p l A learned 454 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:10,200 Speaker 1: some of these basics that they have learned through combat 455 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:18,320 Speaker 1: and you know, various places over over the years, um so, 456 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:24,399 Speaker 1: And the Chinese do UH send their officers to uh 457 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:32,520 Speaker 1: Russian academies uh to to to learn to go to school. Um. 458 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:36,440 Speaker 1: But the bottom line is even though they study US, 459 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:40,120 Speaker 1: they study the Russians, they study Israelis, they like I said, 460 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:44,320 Speaker 1: they study the Brits and you name it. Their studying 461 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:49,359 Speaker 1: them all. They constantly talk about doing things their way, 462 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:56,520 Speaker 1: or they talk about modernization with Chinese characteristics, and they 463 00:38:56,640 --> 00:39:01,520 Speaker 1: realize that every one of these other systems is different 464 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:06,719 Speaker 1: than theirs and has different constraints, different constraints than they do. 465 00:39:07,719 --> 00:39:14,440 Speaker 1: So uh what what they learned from these other countries 466 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:23,399 Speaker 1: they then adapt to their situation, John, excuse me, mhm um, 467 00:39:24,320 --> 00:39:26,880 Speaker 1: there's a something you said that kind of interesting. I 468 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:30,399 Speaker 1: was listening when you were talking about the long term 469 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:33,240 Speaker 1: service of their NCOs in these regiments. Would it seems 470 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:34,759 Speaker 1: to me like that would almost lead to a sort 471 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:36,840 Speaker 1: of cliquishness wouldn't it. Do you have these guys that 472 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:39,359 Speaker 1: have been up the put the unit for ten twelve 473 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:42,600 Speaker 1: using have these conscripts coming in, UM do you think? 474 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:44,800 Speaker 1: What do you think at least that sort of environment 475 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:46,719 Speaker 1: within those units where you have the US and them 476 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:52,080 Speaker 1: kind of mentality. UM. Well, actually they at least from 477 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:56,080 Speaker 1: what you see on the videos of them greeting the 478 00:39:56,200 --> 00:40:02,000 Speaker 1: new soldiers, the new recruits, they they really are going 479 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:06,920 Speaker 1: out of their way to to welcome them into UH, 480 00:40:07,120 --> 00:40:10,520 Speaker 1: into the unit, and they talk about the new recruits, 481 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:14,880 Speaker 1: look at their squad leaders, their friend things like that, 482 00:40:15,120 --> 00:40:20,040 Speaker 1: so that they are really trying hard to UM to 483 00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:24,479 Speaker 1: in to welcome the new recruits in, which is quite 484 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:28,120 Speaker 1: a difference from the way the Russians UM and the 485 00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:33,640 Speaker 1: Soviets used to treat their UH conscripts. You know, I 486 00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:39,080 Speaker 1: I remember reading reports of the Russians or the Soviets 487 00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:42,200 Speaker 1: beating n c o s, beating the conscripts with a 488 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:46,759 Speaker 1: fence posts and things like that. I don't see much 489 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:48,840 Speaker 1: of that. I don't see any of that in the 490 00:40:48,960 --> 00:40:52,520 Speaker 1: p l Ah. That's that's a that's a contrast in 491 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:55,520 Speaker 1: between we the way we welcome people into the camp 492 00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:59,160 Speaker 1: and just getting off the bus at Parris Island is 493 00:40:59,239 --> 00:41:02,640 Speaker 1: a is an deal in itself, So that's that's an 494 00:41:02,680 --> 00:41:06,160 Speaker 1: interesting one. Literally in the p l A. From what 495 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:11,200 Speaker 1: you see is they open that welcome them with open arms, 496 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:16,239 Speaker 1: and it's uh, it's shall I say, much different uh 497 00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:24,319 Speaker 1: induction than than I went through fifty some years ago. Yeah. 498 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,400 Speaker 1: I remember my first morning at Great Lakes, Illinois. We 499 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:30,560 Speaker 1: were awakened by a garbage can being kicked down the 500 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:32,759 Speaker 1: squad day and guys tossing us out of our racks 501 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:35,160 Speaker 1: on the floor. I didn't feel welcome. I can a fall. 502 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:39,160 Speaker 1: It wasn't a welcome experience. Yeah. Well, well these guys 503 00:41:39,239 --> 00:41:42,279 Speaker 1: will do a lot of sit ups in mud and 504 00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:46,360 Speaker 1: with logs on their chest and things like that, so 505 00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:52,200 Speaker 1: you know, they get back in a different way. What 506 00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:54,600 Speaker 1: what would you have to tell me? Tell us about 507 00:41:55,400 --> 00:42:00,520 Speaker 1: the different quality in Chinese armored fighting vehicles, tanks and 508 00:42:00,600 --> 00:42:04,520 Speaker 1: a PC sum. I can recall from the first call 509 00:42:04,640 --> 00:42:09,040 Speaker 1: for pictures of Chinese built tanks for the Iraqis that 510 00:42:09,160 --> 00:42:12,400 Speaker 1: had sometimes and one able to shooting through two of 511 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:16,840 Speaker 1: them at a time. And as I recalled, there was 512 00:42:16,920 --> 00:42:19,640 Speaker 1: some talk about the Chinese selling stuff to the Iraqis. 513 00:42:19,719 --> 00:42:22,120 Speaker 1: Had thinned out armor in them that they weren't actual 514 00:42:22,280 --> 00:42:25,439 Speaker 1: full main battle tanks. They were had half the armor 515 00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:27,719 Speaker 1: plate in them that a normal T fifty two or 516 00:42:27,760 --> 00:42:31,000 Speaker 1: T sixty two. Do they think the quality of their 517 00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:35,080 Speaker 1: weapons has improved a great deal significant amount. Yeah, it 518 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 1: certainly has improved. And this takes me back what you 519 00:42:38,719 --> 00:42:41,759 Speaker 1: said to when I was in Beijing. I had a 520 00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:46,759 Speaker 1: marine colleague who I was there just after the first 521 00:42:46,840 --> 00:42:50,320 Speaker 1: goal or yeah, the first goal for and he basically, 522 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:59,920 Speaker 1: uh cleaned up the battlefield after the after the battles, 523 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:05,080 Speaker 1: and we were at a you know, cocktail party or something, 524 00:43:05,840 --> 00:43:10,160 Speaker 1: and there was somebody from the Chinese defense industries uh 525 00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:18,920 Speaker 1: there and uh my colonel buddy said, uh, mentioned that 526 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:22,239 Speaker 1: he had just come back from from the war, and 527 00:43:22,520 --> 00:43:28,200 Speaker 1: the the Chinese said, ah, so you saw a lot 528 00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:33,080 Speaker 1: of our equipment on the battlefield. What did you think 529 00:43:33,120 --> 00:43:38,200 Speaker 1: about it? And like a like a good marine he said, 530 00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:47,759 Speaker 1: it burned real good. And the guy, the Chinese rep 531 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:52,080 Speaker 1: didn't say anything after that blocked away. Yeah. I wonder 532 00:43:52,080 --> 00:43:55,160 Speaker 1: if they sell that stuff with a warranty. Yeah, But 533 00:43:57,040 --> 00:44:01,080 Speaker 1: over the years that that that stuff was UM again 534 00:44:01,239 --> 00:44:05,359 Speaker 1: Soviet era UM and it was what the Iraqis were 535 00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:10,640 Speaker 1: buying high end Soviet stuff and low end Chinese stuff. 536 00:44:11,560 --> 00:44:14,800 Speaker 1: And I was in Korea at the time. In the 537 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:18,839 Speaker 1: second I D and UH again we got the same 538 00:44:18,880 --> 00:44:22,640 Speaker 1: reports as you did because we were wondering, Hey is 539 00:44:23,080 --> 00:44:26,480 Speaker 1: the m one, how is it going to do on 540 00:44:26,600 --> 00:44:30,680 Speaker 1: the battlefield, how's the Abram's going to do on the battlefield? Well, 541 00:44:30,719 --> 00:44:35,759 Speaker 1: they both eight up the Soviet era equipment UH and 542 00:44:35,960 --> 00:44:38,719 Speaker 1: the Chinese. That was a as we would say, a 543 00:44:38,800 --> 00:44:44,760 Speaker 1: significant emotional experience for the Chinese watching the UH success 544 00:44:44,880 --> 00:44:50,120 Speaker 1: of the high technology UH advanced forces of the United 545 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:56,560 Speaker 1: States and coalition forces in that period in both air 546 00:44:56,760 --> 00:45:02,080 Speaker 1: and ground and it h UM. They did a couple 547 00:45:02,080 --> 00:45:05,640 Speaker 1: of double takes and they said, Okay, now, guys, as 548 00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:07,800 Speaker 1: much as we hate to do it, we're gonna have 549 00:45:07,880 --> 00:45:10,280 Speaker 1: to go in all in, all in on this equipment. 550 00:45:11,239 --> 00:45:13,600 Speaker 1: And UH. That's one of the things they've been doing 551 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:20,799 Speaker 1: since that time, is really focusing on modernizing UH their 552 00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:25,080 Speaker 1: equipment in all services, and the Army is probably behind 553 00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:31,320 Speaker 1: the other services, but right now i'd estimate that probably 554 00:45:31,560 --> 00:45:35,759 Speaker 1: in the Army about one third of the A p 555 00:45:35,920 --> 00:45:39,719 Speaker 1: c s and tanks still maybe a little less now 556 00:45:40,600 --> 00:45:44,719 Speaker 1: it changes every year, but still a significant amount is 557 00:45:44,920 --> 00:45:51,440 Speaker 1: Soviet era, like the BMPs UH type UH type literally 558 00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:59,680 Speaker 1: type fifty five. In US they call them Type fifty nine. 559 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:02,640 Speaker 1: But there are still hundreds of them in in the 560 00:46:02,760 --> 00:46:06,239 Speaker 1: p l A, many of them out west, but some 561 00:46:06,440 --> 00:46:11,360 Speaker 1: of them spread out, some of them upgraded slightly. But 562 00:46:13,520 --> 00:46:17,160 Speaker 1: h you here talk that. In fact, they have talked 563 00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:23,560 Speaker 1: about the Chinese set the date of two uh modernized 564 00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:33,839 Speaker 1: Personnel Equipment Organization and doctrine, And I estimate I take 565 00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:37,640 Speaker 1: that to mean by they plan on getting rid of 566 00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:43,960 Speaker 1: all the um Soviet era pre two thousand designed and 567 00:46:44,120 --> 00:46:50,760 Speaker 1: produced equipment in their inventory and produced and and replace 568 00:46:50,840 --> 00:46:56,479 Speaker 1: it by UH more modern, more advanced equipment. But still 569 00:46:56,960 --> 00:47:03,359 Speaker 1: their armies uh nearly a million person strong. So they've 570 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:06,720 Speaker 1: got they they've got a lot of equipment to replace, 571 00:47:07,640 --> 00:47:13,480 Speaker 1: and that it's so much time. Yeah, can we afford it? 572 00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:17,840 Speaker 1: We have the money to do it well. For example, 573 00:47:18,080 --> 00:47:26,400 Speaker 1: there top of the line tank that type probably costs 574 00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:30,320 Speaker 1: are they're they're selling it overseas or an export version 575 00:47:30,360 --> 00:47:33,240 Speaker 1: of it for four to five million dollars a copy, 576 00:47:34,160 --> 00:47:39,160 Speaker 1: And yeah, our our M one is probably more like 577 00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:43,960 Speaker 1: eight or more million a copy. And you get what 578 00:47:44,120 --> 00:47:48,800 Speaker 1: you pay for h. But their type is not the 579 00:47:48,920 --> 00:47:53,359 Speaker 1: most prevalent tank. The most present prevalent tank in their 580 00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:58,720 Speaker 1: inventory is the Type N series, which in many ways 581 00:47:58,880 --> 00:48:02,840 Speaker 1: looks like the nine nine but doesn't have all the 582 00:48:02,920 --> 00:48:06,800 Speaker 1: bells and whistles and costs about a million dollars to 583 00:48:06,960 --> 00:48:11,360 Speaker 1: produce as opposed to three or four million dollars. And 584 00:48:11,960 --> 00:48:15,600 Speaker 1: uh but with it, you know, you get a step 585 00:48:15,719 --> 00:48:20,919 Speaker 1: down in capability. But the type is what you'll see 586 00:48:21,880 --> 00:48:25,600 Speaker 1: uh in in in many, many units. And they they 587 00:48:26,320 --> 00:48:29,200 Speaker 1: they acknowledge the type is going to be the backbone 588 00:48:29,280 --> 00:48:36,800 Speaker 1: tank of their force, not the how many live rounds 589 00:48:36,880 --> 00:48:39,040 Speaker 1: do you how many live rounds do you figure a 590 00:48:39,880 --> 00:48:42,960 Speaker 1: Japanese I mean a Chinese soldier of p L A 591 00:48:43,040 --> 00:48:46,959 Speaker 1: gets to fire in a year. Again, that's hard to say, 592 00:48:47,160 --> 00:48:54,560 Speaker 1: you uh you uh tanks firing on tank lanes tank 593 00:48:54,719 --> 00:49:00,560 Speaker 1: ranges almost every day. Um. But because us they have 594 00:49:00,800 --> 00:49:05,680 Speaker 1: so many tank platoons companies out there, you know, you 595 00:49:05,760 --> 00:49:12,479 Speaker 1: can always find somebody doing um target you know, live 596 00:49:12,560 --> 00:49:18,600 Speaker 1: fire shooting, so um tank tables. I think we used 597 00:49:18,640 --> 00:49:23,640 Speaker 1: to call it um so well. And and that's the 598 00:49:23,719 --> 00:49:25,960 Speaker 1: Communist you know, so it could be the same take 599 00:49:26,040 --> 00:49:29,040 Speaker 1: shooting every day it is. The communist said, I've known 600 00:49:29,120 --> 00:49:32,120 Speaker 1: for telling the truth because the same take out up 601 00:49:32,200 --> 00:49:35,879 Speaker 1: there for two weeks, shooting and cameras and stuff. Well, 602 00:49:36,920 --> 00:49:39,520 Speaker 1: there are ways we can tell that at least it's 603 00:49:39,560 --> 00:49:44,800 Speaker 1: different units doing this training. Um, you know, I I 604 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:47,880 Speaker 1: monitored close enough so I can tell which you know 605 00:49:49,360 --> 00:49:52,120 Speaker 1: right now. I'm just this morning, I was watching a 606 00:49:52,280 --> 00:49:54,600 Speaker 1: unit that has been reported out in the field now 607 00:49:54,719 --> 00:49:58,600 Speaker 1: for about three weeks and and doing this kind of stuff. 608 00:49:59,000 --> 00:50:02,799 Speaker 1: But you know, would have this this brigade that I'm 609 00:50:02,840 --> 00:50:06,759 Speaker 1: talking about, would have four battalions, four combined arms battalions, 610 00:50:07,440 --> 00:50:09,760 Speaker 1: and so over a period of three weeks, it wouldn't 611 00:50:09,760 --> 00:50:16,200 Speaker 1: surprise me they rotate all the companies through uh this 612 00:50:16,400 --> 00:50:20,480 Speaker 1: basic you know, tank gunnery kind of thing. But then 613 00:50:20,840 --> 00:50:28,760 Speaker 1: there are some forty armor heavy armored are heavy combined 614 00:50:28,920 --> 00:50:35,320 Speaker 1: arms perades, so forty times forty uh battalions. You know 615 00:50:35,480 --> 00:50:37,759 Speaker 1: that that that's a lot of battalions to run through 616 00:50:38,600 --> 00:50:41,560 Speaker 1: and a lot of tanks to run through. Gunnery every year, 617 00:50:42,560 --> 00:50:45,240 Speaker 1: well in three weeks is a significant amount of deployment 618 00:50:45,320 --> 00:50:47,160 Speaker 1: time for that kind of work too. That's that's that's 619 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:50,400 Speaker 1: not a small you know, a weekend lawyer kind of thing. 620 00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:55,279 Speaker 1: Three weeks is that's that's significant in terms of training. Yeah, well, 621 00:50:55,360 --> 00:50:58,080 Speaker 1: these are these are their active duty forces. This is 622 00:50:58,120 --> 00:51:01,560 Speaker 1: not the reserves, This is not a militia. These are 623 00:51:01,960 --> 00:51:06,040 Speaker 1: you know, there um, what they consider their number one 624 00:51:06,360 --> 00:51:10,640 Speaker 1: heavy units. Yeah, they're they're out, they're spending time in 625 00:51:10,719 --> 00:51:13,120 Speaker 1: the field now. Yeah, but a lot of it, like 626 00:51:13,280 --> 00:51:16,279 Speaker 1: I say, is still focused on integrating. At this point 627 00:51:16,320 --> 00:51:23,480 Speaker 1: of the year, they're integrating the new soldiers into their units. Well, 628 00:51:23,880 --> 00:51:28,520 Speaker 1: I wanted to again talk to you a little bit 629 00:51:28,560 --> 00:51:32,160 Speaker 1: about Chinese special operations units and and when you and 630 00:51:32,360 --> 00:51:35,239 Speaker 1: I talked before and then you mentioned it when Sean 631 00:51:35,320 --> 00:51:41,759 Speaker 1: and I saw you um at the Global Soft Foundation symposium. 632 00:51:42,320 --> 00:51:47,200 Speaker 1: The Chinese Special operations forces, you said, are a lot 633 00:51:47,360 --> 00:51:52,480 Speaker 1: like similar to ranger units in particular to their missions. 634 00:51:52,760 --> 00:51:56,760 Speaker 1: And you know, I look at the kind of trend 635 00:51:57,160 --> 00:52:01,400 Speaker 1: that's going on. You see it and in several areas 636 00:52:01,480 --> 00:52:03,919 Speaker 1: of the world, one of which where you know, where 637 00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:08,800 Speaker 1: China is involved in with their only military base outside 638 00:52:08,840 --> 00:52:12,320 Speaker 1: of China and Africa, the trend seems to be, you know, 639 00:52:12,560 --> 00:52:15,800 Speaker 1: a war by proxy, and that doesn't seem like these 640 00:52:16,239 --> 00:52:20,040 Speaker 1: type of special operations units are ready for that kind 641 00:52:20,160 --> 00:52:23,920 Speaker 1: of you know, atmosphere. Do you have any inkling on 642 00:52:24,640 --> 00:52:32,680 Speaker 1: if they're capable of doing anything like that? UM. The 643 00:52:34,200 --> 00:52:39,000 Speaker 1: focus of the vast majority of their Special Operations brigades, 644 00:52:39,320 --> 00:52:42,440 Speaker 1: which are then broken down into battalions and then companies 645 00:52:43,000 --> 00:52:47,280 Speaker 1: and then teams UM, is much more at the tactical 646 00:52:47,880 --> 00:52:55,960 Speaker 1: ranger type patrolling UH bright kinds of UH missions, reconnaissance, 647 00:52:56,040 --> 00:53:00,440 Speaker 1: things like that, and all of their uh s o 648 00:53:00,640 --> 00:53:07,440 Speaker 1: F are belong to UH army level or core level 649 00:53:08,120 --> 00:53:15,839 Speaker 1: core level organizations. UM. There s o F at least 650 00:53:15,920 --> 00:53:18,880 Speaker 1: an all of the doctor and I've read do not 651 00:53:19,160 --> 00:53:23,400 Speaker 1: have a mission in the same way that our special 652 00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:30,800 Speaker 1: forces are special operations forces UH due of foreign internal 653 00:53:30,920 --> 00:53:36,600 Speaker 1: defense or unconventional warfare where they might go behind somebody's 654 00:53:36,719 --> 00:53:42,239 Speaker 1: lines and set up guerrilla chains and things like that. UM. 655 00:53:42,400 --> 00:53:45,000 Speaker 1: If anything, what these guys are training to do is 656 00:53:45,160 --> 00:53:50,400 Speaker 1: to combat that kind of stuff in their backyard. UM. 657 00:53:52,080 --> 00:53:56,880 Speaker 1: But in my opinion, UH, I think they're focused on 658 00:53:57,120 --> 00:54:01,880 Speaker 1: light special operations forces and end on some high mobility 659 00:54:02,080 --> 00:54:08,560 Speaker 1: light infantry h will prove useful for them, probably much 660 00:54:08,640 --> 00:54:14,080 Speaker 1: more than a tank heavy or a heavy combined arms brigade, 661 00:54:14,520 --> 00:54:17,719 Speaker 1: because that heavy brigade is going to take a whole 662 00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:22,160 Speaker 1: lot longer to get someplace, uh than than some of 663 00:54:22,200 --> 00:54:26,959 Speaker 1: these lighter units. And UM, so I see their lighter 664 00:54:27,120 --> 00:54:30,600 Speaker 1: units giving them options today that they didn't have in 665 00:54:30,719 --> 00:54:37,040 Speaker 1: the past. Uh. Now certainly there s O F are 666 00:54:37,160 --> 00:54:44,560 Speaker 1: their their Special Operations Units as they're now UM formed, 667 00:54:45,040 --> 00:54:48,439 Speaker 1: go out and they train. They train with TIE. They train, 668 00:54:48,960 --> 00:54:53,440 Speaker 1: believe it or not, with Indian and Pakistani forces. They do. 669 00:54:54,120 --> 00:54:58,480 Speaker 1: They've had exchanges with them where they you know, basically 670 00:54:59,280 --> 00:55:05,880 Speaker 1: exchange UM teams or platoons or you know, small units 671 00:55:05,920 --> 00:55:10,160 Speaker 1: and they do training for a couple of weeks. And 672 00:55:10,320 --> 00:55:15,560 Speaker 1: so they're they're there and their special operations personnel, many 673 00:55:15,680 --> 00:55:20,400 Speaker 1: of them have gone to the Venezuela Hunter schools, have 674 00:55:20,600 --> 00:55:25,880 Speaker 1: gone to uh competitions in Jordan's and many other places. 675 00:55:27,520 --> 00:55:33,160 Speaker 1: So uh they are aware of what other special Operations 676 00:55:33,280 --> 00:55:37,800 Speaker 1: forces are doing, and they they are being exposed to 677 00:55:38,000 --> 00:55:43,800 Speaker 1: some of those exercises and training methods. I think I 678 00:55:44,320 --> 00:55:47,440 Speaker 1: think I would call I think I would call the U. S. 679 00:55:47,520 --> 00:55:52,920 Speaker 1: Marines and Chinese Marines holding some kind of exchange. Sometimes 680 00:55:52,960 --> 00:55:58,560 Speaker 1: I think I'm seeing pictures of that. Yeah, well, yes, 681 00:55:58,640 --> 00:56:05,120 Speaker 1: you've seen things like that. But our US military contact 682 00:56:06,120 --> 00:56:12,200 Speaker 1: is very UH fenced by UH by Congress and the 683 00:56:12,320 --> 00:56:17,160 Speaker 1: National Defense Authorization Act. And there may be port calls 684 00:56:17,320 --> 00:56:20,320 Speaker 1: and things where they teach each other how to tie knots. 685 00:56:21,320 --> 00:56:28,920 Speaker 1: And you may have seen a couple instances of cooperation 686 00:56:29,280 --> 00:56:40,200 Speaker 1: in UM, say anti piracy kinds of UM small individual 687 00:56:40,360 --> 00:56:43,960 Speaker 1: or a small unit movement and things like that, because 688 00:56:44,120 --> 00:56:48,560 Speaker 1: the Chinese are taking part in an anti piracy UM 689 00:56:49,480 --> 00:56:53,719 Speaker 1: mission in the Gulf of Aiden. But anything that UH 690 00:56:54,520 --> 00:57:01,840 Speaker 1: improves their capability to UH do it anst combined arms 691 00:57:02,080 --> 00:57:06,600 Speaker 1: or joint operations is pretty much prescribed by by law 692 00:57:07,160 --> 00:57:11,680 Speaker 1: here in the United States and most most, the vast 693 00:57:11,760 --> 00:57:18,000 Speaker 1: majority of our contact of actual troops has been on 694 00:57:18,840 --> 00:57:24,560 Speaker 1: a a d R Humanitary assistance and disaster relief kind 695 00:57:24,640 --> 00:57:30,400 Speaker 1: of cooperation and training on their on their anti piracy stuff. 696 00:57:31,320 --> 00:57:33,200 Speaker 1: Do you a system to be pretty effective of that? 697 00:57:33,280 --> 00:57:36,080 Speaker 1: Are they just sort of going out there and sailing around? 698 00:57:36,120 --> 00:57:37,920 Speaker 1: Are they are they get at it or are they 699 00:57:38,040 --> 00:57:41,600 Speaker 1: mediocre or are they competent? Well, this is an important 700 00:57:41,880 --> 00:57:46,360 Speaker 1: mission for their navy and they've been doing this since 701 00:57:46,480 --> 00:57:50,680 Speaker 1: the end. They sent their first three ship task force 702 00:57:51,920 --> 00:57:56,400 Speaker 1: halfway around the world UH at the end of two 703 00:57:56,520 --> 00:58:01,320 Speaker 1: thousand eight, and they have basically kept three ships on 704 00:58:01,680 --> 00:58:07,280 Speaker 1: station UM since that time there now I think into 705 00:58:07,320 --> 00:58:13,800 Speaker 1: their rotation in so this is very important for them. UH. 706 00:58:14,640 --> 00:58:19,320 Speaker 1: So far about half of their destroyer fleet and UH 707 00:58:21,280 --> 00:58:26,440 Speaker 1: frigate fleet has rotated through at least one iteration of 708 00:58:26,560 --> 00:58:31,040 Speaker 1: this mission. But UH this is important to them because 709 00:58:31,440 --> 00:58:36,720 Speaker 1: the vast majority of their operations are conducted in within 710 00:58:37,400 --> 00:58:42,600 Speaker 1: a few hundred miles of China's coast, and these are 711 00:58:42,920 --> 00:58:49,560 Speaker 1: extended operations far away from China, which the p l 712 00:58:49,640 --> 00:58:55,480 Speaker 1: A that this is their their longest kind of similar experience. 713 00:58:56,320 --> 00:59:01,000 Speaker 1: And what they're doing is they're gradually rotating their units 714 00:59:01,040 --> 00:59:07,560 Speaker 1: through so that they're both their officers and crew UM 715 00:59:08,200 --> 00:59:11,680 Speaker 1: have the opportunity to do this. And like I say, 716 00:59:11,840 --> 00:59:21,760 Speaker 1: right now, of their destroyers probably somewhat less than their 717 00:59:21,880 --> 00:59:25,960 Speaker 1: destroyers and about half of their frigates have done it once. 718 00:59:27,000 --> 00:59:29,240 Speaker 1: Many of them have done it two or three times, 719 00:59:29,320 --> 00:59:33,120 Speaker 1: and many officers have and n c o s have 720 00:59:33,280 --> 00:59:37,360 Speaker 1: done it two or three times also. But still compared 721 00:59:37,440 --> 00:59:43,200 Speaker 1: to the amount of blue water sailing and training and 722 00:59:43,840 --> 00:59:51,680 Speaker 1: UH exercising that our Navy does, UM, their their numbers 723 00:59:51,800 --> 00:59:57,120 Speaker 1: are are much lower UH than than ours. Their experience 724 00:59:57,320 --> 01:00:03,000 Speaker 1: level at this kind of operation is uh much lower 725 01:00:03,080 --> 01:00:06,640 Speaker 1: than ours. You know, for example, what they're looking at 726 01:00:07,000 --> 01:00:13,360 Speaker 1: is protecting against surface small pirate boats and so they've 727 01:00:13,360 --> 01:00:15,840 Speaker 1: got a couple of helicopters that they can patrol and 728 01:00:15,960 --> 01:00:21,120 Speaker 1: they you know, can dispatch things. But I'm assuming that 729 01:00:21,280 --> 01:00:26,200 Speaker 1: they would also be maintaining anti submarine awareness out at 730 01:00:26,240 --> 01:00:30,360 Speaker 1: see even though the pilots the pirates don't have submarines. 731 01:00:31,560 --> 01:00:34,520 Speaker 1: But I would think that if they are maintaining their 732 01:00:34,720 --> 01:00:40,440 Speaker 1: air awareness, air defense awareness, and anti submarine warfare awareness, 733 01:00:40,560 --> 01:00:46,080 Speaker 1: even if there aren't any targets out there, Uh, they're 734 01:00:46,120 --> 01:00:49,520 Speaker 1: getting experience in that. But that's still a different level 735 01:00:49,560 --> 01:00:54,160 Speaker 1: of experience than what our navy has been doing for 736 01:00:54,360 --> 01:00:57,800 Speaker 1: the past seventy years or more. Do you do you 737 01:00:58,040 --> 01:01:01,760 Speaker 1: do you assist their sw capabild to be um are 738 01:01:01,840 --> 01:01:04,520 Speaker 1: any any value with they didn't good at it your 739 01:01:04,560 --> 01:01:09,640 Speaker 1: context that it's only in the past few years, uh 740 01:01:10,440 --> 01:01:15,680 Speaker 1: that they've really started working on air, surface and subsurface 741 01:01:15,840 --> 01:01:22,920 Speaker 1: a s W. Uh they there a s W helicopter 742 01:01:23,080 --> 01:01:28,320 Speaker 1: fleet is relatively limited. They do have there. There are 743 01:01:28,640 --> 01:01:31,200 Speaker 1: many of the missions right now around that are going 744 01:01:31,320 --> 01:01:38,560 Speaker 1: around Taiwan are the fixed wing a s W. Uh. 745 01:01:38,720 --> 01:01:42,520 Speaker 1: So they they've been they have long recognized a s 746 01:01:42,760 --> 01:01:46,320 Speaker 1: W as a shortcoming and they're working to overcome it. 747 01:01:47,240 --> 01:01:50,200 Speaker 1: But I'm not a sailor, but the sailors that I 748 01:01:50,320 --> 01:01:55,560 Speaker 1: know say that it ain't easy and you need a Yeah, 749 01:01:55,640 --> 01:01:58,240 Speaker 1: it's very hard and you need that, you need sort 750 01:01:58,280 --> 01:02:01,280 Speaker 1: of an institutional memory in order to really do it. 751 01:02:01,440 --> 01:02:05,560 Speaker 1: So if they're pretty much with there, and that's usually 752 01:02:05,760 --> 01:02:09,919 Speaker 1: the kind of technology that allies don't like to share 753 01:02:09,960 --> 01:02:12,640 Speaker 1: with one another than in the United States, to my knowledge, 754 01:02:12,680 --> 01:02:15,760 Speaker 1: doesn't shine the other warfare technology want NATO. So I'm 755 01:02:15,800 --> 01:02:18,400 Speaker 1: wondering if the Chinese are having to do this on 756 01:02:18,520 --> 01:02:22,000 Speaker 1: their own um or if they're getting you know, cooperative 757 01:02:22,600 --> 01:02:24,680 Speaker 1: sort of help from the from the Russians. Do you 758 01:02:24,760 --> 01:02:28,600 Speaker 1: do you have any sense on that? Well, a large 759 01:02:28,720 --> 01:02:34,480 Speaker 1: part of their anti submarine warfare helicopter fleet are Russian, 760 01:02:34,760 --> 01:02:39,840 Speaker 1: are Russian birds, So yeah, I'm sure they're they're getting 761 01:02:40,520 --> 01:02:47,760 Speaker 1: um getting help in that regard from from the Russians. Well, 762 01:02:49,040 --> 01:02:51,480 Speaker 1: oh yeah, yeah. I've wanted to thank you for taking 763 01:02:51,560 --> 01:02:55,360 Speaker 1: the time to talk with us today. Please tell our 764 01:02:55,440 --> 01:02:58,840 Speaker 1: readers what you're working on where they could find your 765 01:02:59,120 --> 01:03:02,440 Speaker 1: your great work and what's going on with you in 766 01:03:02,560 --> 01:03:07,880 Speaker 1: the next I say, a few months. Um, well, actually, 767 01:03:07,920 --> 01:03:11,760 Speaker 1: I'm working on a project that will be sort of 768 01:03:11,800 --> 01:03:15,680 Speaker 1: an introduction to the Chinese Armed forces. It'll be an 769 01:03:15,760 --> 01:03:21,720 Speaker 1: e book and like six or seven hours worth of presentation, 770 01:03:21,920 --> 01:03:26,439 Speaker 1: but fortunately it won't be my voice. Uh, and theyre 771 01:03:26,560 --> 01:03:29,720 Speaker 1: you know, talking through the power points and all that 772 01:03:29,880 --> 01:03:32,680 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. So that's what I've been working on 773 01:03:32,840 --> 01:03:38,760 Speaker 1: for the past about eight months. Unfortunately, it might be pricier, 774 01:03:39,600 --> 01:03:41,960 Speaker 1: be might be pricier than I would want to pay, 775 01:03:42,840 --> 01:03:47,400 Speaker 1: But I'll let you know when it's finally available. Uh. 776 01:03:47,840 --> 01:03:51,800 Speaker 1: You know, people complained when my book was forty dollars. 777 01:03:51,960 --> 01:03:55,520 Speaker 1: This unfortunately will be more than that. But you know, 778 01:03:55,640 --> 01:03:59,040 Speaker 1: that's the business end of things. I don't I just 779 01:03:59,160 --> 01:04:06,439 Speaker 1: provide the content. I am not a businessman. Yeah. Well, 780 01:04:06,560 --> 01:04:09,920 Speaker 1: that that's rings for all of us there. But before 781 01:04:10,000 --> 01:04:12,800 Speaker 1: we go, I just wanted to once again read something 782 01:04:12,920 --> 01:04:15,560 Speaker 1: for our listeners out there. If you want to get 783 01:04:15,640 --> 01:04:18,680 Speaker 1: soft Rep on your phone, download our free mobile app 784 01:04:18,800 --> 01:04:22,680 Speaker 1: and get easy access to our articles, podcasts, gear reviews, 785 01:04:22,760 --> 01:04:26,760 Speaker 1: all perfectly formatity your device. Please subscribe to soft rep 786 01:04:26,840 --> 01:04:29,200 Speaker 1: dot com to get access to our library of e 787 01:04:29,360 --> 01:04:34,040 Speaker 1: books hopefully to include Dennis is soon uh in our 788 01:04:34,960 --> 01:04:38,920 Speaker 1: exclusive team room forums and content available on all our 789 01:04:38,960 --> 01:04:43,200 Speaker 1: Apple and Android devices. Dennis, thanks for taking the time today. 790 01:04:44,000 --> 01:04:47,760 Speaker 1: We really appreciate it. We appreciate your insight and uh 791 01:04:48,400 --> 01:04:51,640 Speaker 1: thanks again. Let's uh let's get back and do this 792 01:04:51,720 --> 01:04:56,360 Speaker 1: again real soon. Where you've got my number anytime? Absolutely 793 01:04:56,640 --> 01:05:00,160 Speaker 1: all right for myself, Steve Bows, Verry shaunchons from us. 794 01:05:00,160 --> 01:05:02,840 Speaker 1: It's software. We want to thank our guest today, Dennis 795 01:05:02,920 --> 01:05:07,760 Speaker 1: Blasgow U S Army retired. I call him our resident 796 01:05:07,960 --> 01:05:11,320 Speaker 1: Chinese expert because whenever we have a question on China, 797 01:05:12,000 --> 01:05:15,360 Speaker 1: first guy we email is Dennis. So for all of 798 01:05:15,440 --> 01:05:18,280 Speaker 1: us here, thanks for listening. We'll be backwards another podcast 799 01:05:18,800 --> 01:05:22,400 Speaker 1: real soon. Software Bridio on time on target. Don't turn 800 01:05:22,480 --> 01:05:41,760 Speaker 1: that down love, been listening to self red Lad