Russia and China's Militaries: Similarities and Differences

How do Russia's and China's militaries align and differ in today’s world? In this episode of Facing Coming Storms, Mark Cozad, a RAND Corporation senior defence researcher and former US Air Force intelligence officer joins Peter Apps, to explore how NATO’s 1999 Kosovo campaign pushed both nations toward “non-contact warfare,” mixing precision strikes with political strategy to counter the West. Russia leans on mass mobilisation, as seen in Ukraine, while China bets on cutting-edge tech and institutional strength.We dive into the human and strategic factors - Russia’s purges and cultural shifts versus China’s lack of combat experience since 1979 - plus nuclear posturing, alliances, and flashpoints like Taiwan or Korea.Key moments1:45 - Non-Contact Warfare Explained6:54 - Military Evolution Post-19999:49 - Modern PLA vs. Russian Military16:09 - Chinese Perspectives on Taiwan Conflict30:05 - Internal Military Cultures33:24 - Planning and Execution Challenges42:12 - Future Directions for the PLAFacing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.