Terthna
Professional Lurker
There's also the fact that their equipment is third-rate; because not only do they spend a great deal of their budget on brainwashing their troop into being loyal to the CCP, and not China as a whole, their rampant corruption ensures that corners will be cut at every stage. Take their MREs for example; most of them are apparently so disgusting, as to be completely unpalatable (for those of you in the know, think of the cheese and veggie omelet, or the "vomelet" as it's colloquially known).For all its might, remember that a lot of China's soldiers are underpaid conscripts who probably don't want to be there. And in order for it to flex its superpower muscles, it must first pacify its neck of the woods. It'll have to fight the regional powerhouses of South Korea and Japan (one of whom has the second largest navy in the world), with the not exactly weak Taiwan likely joining in.
Then there's also India, dear god, India. Delhi will not tolerate Beijing's ascendancy. South East Asia is probably getting worried and their power is nothing to sneeze at either.
China is surrounded by people who would spend blood and treasure to stop it rising, and if it came to that, opportunistic Russia will take the opportunity to snuff out what could be a real problem.
And to top it all off, there are various ethnic groups in China who will jump at the chance to breakaway when the PLA is off fighting. China has so very many more problems than the West, which will materialise down the line.
I am well aware of how weak they actually are; but if we keep giving them money to throw at the problem, I'm worried more people will die latter down the line as a result.