Is very good at parades! I mean, I definitely accept the likelihood of a more assertive China (partly because of its military) but are these really the best pictures to show it? The only piece of hardware shown was a single outdated tank.

This article tells me that China has a lot of people who wear uniforms, occasionally hold guns, and are capable of walking, not to mention photographers who are capable of taking pictures. Therefore the U.S. should be careful because this means China will be more assertive in the years ahead.

Foreign Policy, thank you. With articles like this you really raise the level of debate in this country about China's rise.

The title of this photo gallery suggests you are thinking of a single military power and most of the photos are focused on troops of the PRC. However, within, we also find photos from Vietnam, and South Korea, countries that once had a tributary relationship with China, as well as a photo fromTaiwan, a country once partially occupied by China. So, I'm wondering whether your gallery is trying to suggest those nations are, in the early 21st Century, less than completely independent of the PRC.
Secondly, most of the photos show masses of Chinese troops, which China has always had. However, in your gallery, they are wearing their colorful, new uniforms, not the dull, cotton quilted uniforms of the past. Does investment in pretty, new uniforms for its troops make a country a "rising power", or more "assertive"?

How many countries does China have bases in? How much does it spend on it's military? What weapons is China sending to the Conch Republic that is trying to break away from the U.S.? What countries has China embargoed for 40 years? Is FP lickspittling for the U.S. imperialists again? Or is this simply "non-journalism"?

The tagline should have been "Get ready for a more fashionable military power".

Overall, a shoddily organized "photo-essay" that had loosely-organized photos, but little if any essay. More detailed analysis of Chinese military build-up/expenditure and less Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and S. Korean soldiers, please.

I guess this is the magazine equivalent of two weeks of re-runs during the late December and early January holiday season?

In China both the armed police and the military share similar green uniforms (type 07). For internal activities such as guarding public buildings or embassies this is performed by the PAP and not the PLA. Many of the pictures here of guys in green uniforms (such as the ones guarding Shanghai Expo) are thus incorrectly labeled. As with other nation's military forces, PLA soldiers do not know how to handle public security all that well. This concept should not be that difficult to grasp but whoever wrote the description for the pictures appear to be both ignorant and lazy.

Besides confusing Chinese internal security with the PLA, I still don't understand why the pictures are supposed to prove "China's military assertiveness" when a good amount of them are pictures of soldiers from Vietnam and Korea.

When I was in Beijing-Shanghai last March I saw many men in military type uniforms. In Tiananmen Square there were at least six different uniform types, some armed, some not. What's worse is in many large public and private buildings the security guards are also dressed like military personnel. They are not and are at best private guards charged with not much above the duties of a door guard or parking attendant. Back in 2006 when I was last in Beijing the situation was even worse with private (parking attendant) guards dressed like swat teams complete with shoulder patches rank insignia. The locals who know exactly who they are (nobodies) ignore them or treat them with contempt. This incident had fatal consequences. A bank customer was just leaving the bank when an armored truck crew was delivering cash to the bank. This customer was shouted at to move away. But he ignored them as he would any rude self important door guard. They shot him. Big scandal. Calls for curbs on military like uniforms for private security guards. Better training for armed private security guards, etc.

If you don't know China's situation, you'd better not pretend to know that you know it!
This title does not at all match its contents! absurd to see pictures of other countries.
A few fancy pictures will prove the "assertiveness" of China? stop it!
Let my give this article a name"titileism".

The comments seemed to be a lot more informative about China's Military situation than the 'essay' itself. Says a lot about the average FP reader. Although I like FP, I think the readers should have been assigned to write this piece. It seemed like a lazy student being corrected by 12 sarcastic teachers.

This is going to be so good for U.S. arms sales and that's just about all America manufactures these days. America loves war.

China's main concern in the immediate future is home defense, with upgrading its missile technology, J11(Su-27), & 5th generation fighters. From the Aircraft carrier killer missile, to fast attack boats, subs, to an aircraft carrier. From home defense, territorial waters are next. Trying to gain control of the China sea, & area water bodies, to push US naval forces further away from Taiwan. China is actively expanding into the Caribbean & South America, & already control the Panama Canal. PLC even snuck in 15,000 fake birth certificates for their soldiers. One story I read stated 100,000 Chinese unofficially in Panama. Working their docks & old US ports. With their missile technology advancing I hope the US is taking serious pro-cautions toward their southern border.

thanks for a glimpse into China,

Every one had taken noticed of the successful maiden flight of the J-20, the so called fifth generation combat aircraft (fourth generation by USA numbering). However, all the English news had missed the news about China's 6th generation space vehicle successful flight that was in a lot of Chinese Official news. By the time the USA launches its X-37 (spatial military vehicle), China will probably roll out the similar spatial (atmospheric) vehicle roughly at the same time. At then, there will not be significant technological gap.

this seems like a piece designed to stir up nationalism or something. China is a long ways off from being able to go toe to toe with us militarily. Despite the hype, we would literally lay waste to them in any type of formal combat. That's why they have spent all their money on "asymetric systems"...google "assassins mace"

wiki: "Assassin's Mace or "Shashou Jian" is a term used in ancient Chinese strategy. This exotic-sounding term has its roots in ancient Chinese folklore, which recounts how a hero wielding such a weapon managed to overcome a far more powerful adversary. "Shashou Jian" was a club with which the "assassin" incapacitated his enemy, suddenly and totally, instead of fighting him according to "the rules."
Since then, it has come to mean in Chinese military strategy the capacity to rapidly and decisively seize the initiative and turn the tide to one’s advantage when confronting a conventionally superior foe."

They invest in over the horizon missiles, and short range diesel submarines while we invest in Aircraft carriers with limited range aircraft. A great strategy for defending a nation, but not so great at power projection. Their new fighter is also a pure PR stunt. It might be operable, but it aint the F-22. China steals and then reverse engineers everything it has, and as a result they screw things up alot. I still think that FP's Drezner had it right when he said that we are essentially putting china in the spotlight long before it is ready...it feels this pressure to perform now, we will see if it can overcome its immense shortcomings and become a real, responsible powerbroker. So far, it has failed at every turn to convince the world of that. from human rights, to climate change, taiwan, south korea and Japan, China has shown it is not the type of country that the world needs or wants at the helm.

Is it really worth it sporting this meaningless slide show on the front page again?

China has failed to convince the world...

Or convince the US? Or the US = the world even with only 5% population? Do you know most developing countries stand beside China in Copenhagen, including India, who with China have >1/3 world population? When you're secretly picturing your country own the whole world, it must be exciting, just remember not to say it out loud next time.

Photo #20 doesn't show marching. The kids were practising kung fu kicks.

Photo #29 that's not a Taoist monk. That's a buddhist monk.

they are not PLA soldiers they are armed police force
do not call them PLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The title of this photo gallery suggests you are thinking of a single military power and most of the photos are focused on troops of the PRC. media jobs. However, within, we also find photos from Vietnam, and South Korea, countries that once had a tributary relationship with China, as well as a photo fromTaiwan, a country once partially occupied by China.

This article tells me that China has a lot of people who wear uniforms, occasionally hold guns, and are capable of walking, not to mention photographers who are capable of taking pictures. career retail. Therefore the U.S. should be careful because this means China will be more assertive in the years ahead.