Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | Intelligence

S9 Ep34: Is China’s Military Ready for War? PLA Readiness, Regime Stability, and Taiwan with Timothy Heath


Listen Later

Is the Chinese military really ready for war? In this episode, Chris and Matt speak with Timothy Heath, a senior international defense researcher at RAND Corporation, about his provocative new report The Chinese Military’s Doubtful Combat Readiness. Heath argues that the PLA remains deeply shaped by its political mission to preserve CCP rule—and is poorly optimized for high-end combat. They discuss how China’s military modernization masks enduring political constraints, why in his view war over Taiwan remains unlikely, and what China might do instead to challenge US interests through proxy warfare, cyber, and global coercion. Heath also explores the CCP’s legitimacy crisis, China’s evolving strategic partnerships with Russia and Iran, and why the specter of global systemic war can’t be ruled out.

Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs.

Please share this episode using these links
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ruZFgM3oLhM
Podfollow: https://pod.fo/e/2be562

Read Timothy’s reporting
The Chinese Military's Doubtful Combat Readiness: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA830-1.html

Timothy’s other work for the RAND Corporation: https://www.rand.org/about/people/h/heath_timothy_r.html

Support Secrets and Spies
Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

Buy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996

Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg

For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com

Connect with us on social media
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social
Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies
Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies
Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies

Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/fultonmatt.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social

Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.
Music by Andrew R. Bird

Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | IntelligenceBy Secrets & Spies

  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1

4.1

227 ratings


More shows like Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | Intelligence

View all
SpyCast by SpyCast

SpyCast

1,504 Listeners

The WW2 Podcast by Angus Wallace

The WW2 Podcast

1,182 Listeners

Modern War Institute by Modern War Institute at West Point

Modern War Institute

768 Listeners

Cold War Conversations by Ian Sanders

Cold War Conversations

439 Listeners

The Red Line by The Red Line

The Red Line

347 Listeners

The Team House by dee takos

The Team House

949 Listeners

True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics by SPYSCAPE

True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

1,922 Listeners

In Moscow's Shadows by Mark Galeotti

In Moscow's Shadows

352 Listeners

SpyTalk by SpyTalk, Jeff Stein

SpyTalk

198 Listeners

Global Security Briefing by The Royal United Services Institute

Global Security Briefing

19 Listeners

SPYCRAFT 101 by Justin Black

SPYCRAFT 101

310 Listeners

Battleground by Goalhanger

Battleground

326 Listeners

True Russian Spy Missions: Espionage | Investigation | Historical by SPYSCAPE

True Russian Spy Missions: Espionage | Investigation | Historical

50 Listeners

NatSec Matters by Beacon Global Strategies LLC

NatSec Matters

191 Listeners

The Spy Who by Wondery

The Spy Who

530 Listeners