4 Reasons Nobody is Joining China's Military

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In recent years, Beijing has undertaken serious military downsizing measures by cutting nearly 300,000 soldiers from its land-based forces in 2019. The PLA is still massive at 2 million personnel however when we consider the fact that their population is 1.4 billion…the percentage who serve is only .15% which is lower than that of the US and the majority of countries worldwide. At the same time China has invested billions of dollars in defense modernization initiatives.
Written by: Chris Cappy and Tony
Edited by: Michael Michaelides
So wait a second, if they are cutting forces why are they having recruitment problems? Partly Because having more modern weaponry means you need to be able to attract technologically skilled recruits. This is because your recruits need to be smarter and better trained in order to operate this equipment instead of just raw manpower. Higher standards means a smaller pool of recruits to draw from. This is especially true for advanced warships and fighter jets.
A national census in 2020 showed the proportion of pla personnel with higher education had increased to 57% from just over half in 2010. Still, that number was well short of the PLA’s target of around 70%. And to make matters worse the proportion of recruits with postgraduate degrees had declined. In fact, if the PLA just wants to recruit more infantrymen for the army, there will be no difficulties at all. As a former infantryman myself I can tell you when I joined they were accepting anyone with a warm pulse. How do you think I got in?
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[@Taskandpurpose]

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[@Buglife.352]

Morgan and morgan is legit...got my sister in-law 4 milly

[@RainintheBrain]

“good iron is not hammered into nails, and a good man does not become a soldier" another Chinese quote on how joining the army is awful

[@binbi8177]

Why don't you want to be a soldier? Veterans can receive a generous retirement subsidy and can also find a decent job

[@BiGDuke6Actual]

@@binbi8177 - sounds like a question you've asked others but never actually asked yourself...

[@everest9707]

Cappy please don't tell the PLA what they are doing wrong, and how to fix it 🤦‍♂️ Let them get there on their own.

[@just-incase3483]

I’m thinking people don’t wanna die for some over paid politicians that haven’t done anything but get rich and take away their right to live and prosper!!

[@willywonka4340]

but you'll always have young green idealistic kids who'd fall for the nationalistic propaganda 🤷‍♂️😆

[@randallflores-qr8cs]

Bingo!

[@dedeferreira98]

I enlisted to protect my country and people, never have i once felt i served a political power. Thats just anti army propaganda.. IT seems funny now but one day people will cry out for more soldiers..

[@livethefuture2492]

Die for what? China hasn't been involved in any conflicts recently. It's just seen as a profession in China that pays decently well as I understand it. Much as people might join the army in US to pay off college loans.

[@NorgumiOwO]

@@dedeferreira98 I respect you for your service, but you have to realize that a lot of war today is sparked because those in power want it. In my opinion a military should only be used to defend its land and its people, so why are we defending the Middle East? And also the whole reason the military is in the Middle East is because Politicians want an excuse to raise taxes for profit. But I am glad that you are in for the people, good day to you.

[@andy4an]

"lie flat" actually has an additional evolution... "let it rot" the young population is so over the grind. youth unemployment is horrendous, and the jobs tend to require obscene hours and offer low pay

[@J_X999]

This is a global phenomenon. Housing alone is too expensive for the young generation. If young people with solid wages are unable to purchase their own place to live, pessimism will be rife. In Canada, UK and South Korea, this is pretty prevalent.

[@wilfdarr]

10 hours a day, 6 days a week? Ya, I'd be done too.

[@chrisdiaz4876]

As a young man looking to join the Marines I don't know, I find it very hard to understand these pessimistic philosophies that come about, especially since my neighborhood feels like heaven on Earth. So many kids you see walking around with no desire for anything, it's a condition I believe mainly caused by the ease of modern life so widespread in today's world. I've always felt that it's up to a man to make his place in this world, I always saw that as a universal constant. Why others don't have that opinion is strange, especially in the young men my age.

[@haruspex9662]

​@@chrisdiaz4876Your neighborhood must be nice. Not everyone experiences that. For me, I don't support the federal government so I would never enlist in their military. Some people have moral apprehensions about their current leadership. I'm sure the sentiment rings true in China and many other countries as well. Why would I support a system that doesn't support me?

[@theangrysocialist6884]

@@chrisdiaz4876 thing are just getting worse pay is stagnant while prices are rising hard workers are punished with more work and the truth of how irrelevant the suffer of the people is to a capitalist government is showing so of course people are unmotivated. now of course this allso happens in China but China is allso about the only country where I've seen improvement on such matter like their Bann of the 12 hour work day

[@inthenewsbw2003]

War is about a bunch of old uncles telling many young lads to die for them

[@ByronBohte]

Good episode, really upped the detail for this one. 🤙

[@erikvan9582]

I think people need to understand the reason why everybody used to have giant armies and arsenals compared to their population sizes was because for many people the military was one of the few ways there were to put food on their table.The world has improved a lot since then

[@nametag4277]

Also there was the possibility of getting rich through plundering and looting. Not so much today.

[@jvbutalid8316]

following that logic, now that the world is going to the gutter, people are gonna go back to the military...and yet the recruiting numbers are still not ramping up. as for why, there may be some factors: 1. the people who wanted to join aren't physically and mentally fit, and can't be trusted to remain so in the long term 2. the military can't recruit that many due to budgetary problems that come with keeping them well-fed (i mean, it spends money on other things, too, like buying more of what hardware they already had, maintaining all equipment and infrastructure they already had, researching for new technologies, outsourcing the development of hardware to the military industrial complex, and so on) 3. the military doesn't give them a reason to join and remain, reason so strong it tugs at the heartstrings 4. the military is suffering PR nightmare 5. the government behind the military is screwing up, and joining the military might be seen as covering up for the government's failings

[@mbaxter22]

This is why robot armies are in our near future. Robocop 2014 got it right: robot armies supported by a cadre of human handlers. The humans are all tough mercenary types, presumably well paid. This model of warfighting and policing is going to be extremely effective.

[@jvbutalid8316]

@@mbaxter22 ...and brutal. thankfully we're still in the growing pains part

[@dankdaze42069]

Not in America or at least in Democrat and liberal places it's a crap shoot miserable shite hole especially thanks to the elite put forth economy that Biden helped create 😮‍💨

[@LoveFactorySweatShop]

I was stationed in South Korea. Their conscripts just want to go back to a life of playing Starcraft and listening to K-pop girl groups. China is no different.

[@jjww30]

Be honest, you like K-pop now too, huh?

[@lattrelbia2527]

​@jjww30 imjs it puts a little pep in your step.

[@dirtydanxl4770]

Yeah but they are not treated as good as us soilders I knew alot of korean service members who where happy to be KATUSAs because the Korean army treats their services members like shit

[@ShadowPhoenixMaximus]

The CCP is making video games illegal and they're attacking Korean media whenever they accidentally offend the CCP * cough* I mean the whole of China.. 😂

[@honkhonk8009]

@@dirtydanxl4770 Byproduct of conscription i think. The US was similar back when it had conscription. Less so in WW2, but in Vietnam, it was the case for sure.

[@zhenhuang536]

Another well researched video. Way to go Cappy!

[@biffphuddle6581]

Interesting video and analysis. Well researched. Thanks 11B.

[@28ebdh3udnav]

Back in the 1940s to 1970s, people would join since that was the only way to guarantee yourself 3 meals a day

[@Pimpin-rm1ju]

That reminds me of Gangs of New York!

[@wilfdarr]

And when that failed to be the case, it was the Vets that started the protests in Tienanmen Recently it's because is shortens your path to party membership and the right to vote: "service guarantees citizenship"... so to speak...

[@purpleblah2]

My mom says one of her fondest childhood memories was the mandatory military drills they made Chinese schoolchildren do back in the day because they got to eat an army ration after.

[@venonat80]

In ‘90s and early ‘00 when I was in, joining the military was the only job around that had healthcare and affordable housing for their families.

[@user-yd9bx6gs9l]

A good friend of mine was from rural China joined to escape the hard work and poverty in the 70's. Got 3 square meals but he really had to work for it. lol. He emigrated to the States and started his own construction company. We actully met when he was doing some renovation work for me and he would put in 10 to 12 hour days ( obviously not union workers here...lol) to finish as quickly as possible to start the next project. I ssked him if the workload was too much and he told me it was nothing compared to being in the PLA....lol

[@benjaminmatheny6683]

Comparing the "Lie Flat" idea to "Quiet Quitting" is correct. Saying it's trying to be "more comfortable" is not. It's an expression of the realization that hard work no longer translates to personal success. Chinese lying flat frequently *do not* have comfortable lives, they stop trying because working hard wasn't materially improving their situation. For example, there was a recent incident with dozens of nurses at a hospital threatening to all jump from the windows because they haven't received their pay in over 6 months. We are talking trained/educated professionals working without pay for half a year. If that kind of hard work is rewarded by getting stiffed, it's no wonder people lie flat.

[@blckspice5167]

No, "quiet quitting" is a corporate term, made up to guilt trip their workers.

[@laulaja-7186]

Quiet quitting is also not possible when you are unemployed. This is true on both sides.

[@mcgarbageproductions588]

damn

[@stark5679]

"Lol...i giveup. Nap time "😂

[@Taskandpurpose]

Great info, thanks for the comment , Always tough to draw comparisons between culture in China and the US

[@danielbeach4855]

Thanks for the detailed briefing!

[@peterloo3136]

Thank you for video!

[@pioneerspiritPS]

People 18-25 worldwide don't want to join their nation's military. I'm from Canada and our military has 100 personnel leaving and only 80 people being hired.

[@Fred_the_1996]

yes, i live in portugal and our army's classes are like 15 to 20 people at most. if you watch a portuguese basic training video it's always just one or two drill sargeants and just over a dozen recruits, it's kind of funny honestly

[@dedeferreira98]

@@Fred_the_1996 Its kind of sad tbh, we Portugal need a bigger army for sure, hope things change

[@BoxStudioExecutive]

@@dedeferreira98 For what? To protect against a Spanish invasion?

[@dedeferreira98]

@@BoxStudioExecutive Against any threat. Thats whats me and many others swore to do. You dont know whats coming in the future, the world might be peacefull (kind of) now but tomorrow? Ukraine gave up its nukes a few years ago in the promise of peace, look what happened. A country cannot survive withaut an army

[@GiarcraiGO]

Years ago, I knew an old Baltic German lady, whos family survived WW2 before they came to Canada (much of her extended family got stuck in the soviet union). I would talk to her about history, I remember I once repeated a phrase Id heard others say about "ww3 would be fought with nukes, so ww4 would be fought with sticks and stones". She responded to me that "ww3 will be the citizens of the world against their own governments". I've been thinking of her more and more the last few years and now can't help but think that she was right.

[@kingrobotnik6950]

So essentially, they need more highly skilled people, but the highly skilled people are saying “f-k this sh*t I’m out”

[@laulaja-7186]

That is SO true. For good reasons and bad, those outside the bell curve often don’t identify all that closely with those inside of it.

[@ABa-os6wm]

Yep. Why fight for any broken government?

[@Hana-qs9zg]

Why fight for a government that is willing to disappear you at any time?

[@ela09qpw]

This blogger tells opposite of the truth. PRC don't have any issues recruiting. The fact is, PRC have to raise the recruiting standard to turn down majority of applicants with some ridiculous reasons such as no tattoo is allowed, you have to be have pass certain grades in Uni to be able to qualify, etc.

[@aaronnilestoussaint5672]

@@ela09qpwit’s the exact opposite of the US. They’re lowering standards

[@DanielvanderKlooster-gv8mj]

Two Thumbs Up, though! The usual quality as to be expected from Task And Purpose. Outstanding, thanks!

[@meanmanturbo]

Hmm, in Sweden there is no requirment for a university degree to become a pilot, nor officer. Officer training school is 3 years and counts as a university degree though, and fighter pilot training is 6,5 years.

[@kelton6649]

Well for all the reasons not to join I would say a big factor for me personally is that I'm not a Chinese citizen

[@dedeferreira98]

That reminded me of a joke few years ago when biden became president. Someone Twitted "NOT MY PRESIDENT" and someone answered with "You fascist" only for the guy to say "Bro im no fascist im just not american"

[@wilfdarr]

They have hired several foreign pilots, so don't let that stop you...😉

[@matteff3814]

Russia will take you

[@RastaAfricanGentleman]

@@dedeferreira98 🤣🤣🤣🤣 that's definitely something I would say

[@outofturn331]

How does overseas troll army appeal to you..

[@RAS_Squints]

I assume its the 1 child policy and in Chinese culture, the male child is the parrents retirement ticket

[@joeywheelerii9136]

That's part of it but also class issues. The party members are basically the Nobility and are decadent. The many Chinese people are wage slaves working 12 hours shifts. The CCP is losing the Mandate of Heaven.

[@just-incase3483]

Parents

[@MostlyPennyCat]

​@@just-incase3483 I think you'll find it's actually Parrrrrrrrrents

[@wilfdarr]

Yup, that's a very big part of it! Communism will always be its own worst enemy!

[@MichaelPetek]

Every one of them is Private Ryan.

[@Danchoys]

Thank you for your videos, pal

[@terryward1422]

Great segment. You covered a lot of ground in this video and explained some very interesting issues with China's culture, its economy and its military. Well done soldier...

[@ElJefeDeTexas]

20th Century: I can make money by joining the military 21st Century: I can make money by joining target

[@laulaja-7186]

21.1 century: I can’t make money anywhere because rents are too high.

[@oscargrainger2962]

If we have no armies we have no wars, seems good to me.

[@vinod-cf2jl]

​@@oscargrainger2962Terrorism has entered the chat...

[@user-ny5nx5gr7q]

I'm planning on joining the marines. My great grandad and my grandad were in the marines, and my father was in the army. My father is supporting me in my actions to join the marines. My mother was not in the military, and her side has no backround in the military as well. She thinks that if I do that I am going to die. That is also what the chinese parents are thinking I believe, but unlike me having a brother, the parents only have one child, and they do not want their only child to be lost in the heat of war.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Great grandad was a First World War veteran, army. My grandfather was Army, British Parachute Regiment. He fought in the Korean War and built bridges in what were, at the time, British Empire Colonies (Malaya, Borneo, Singapore) My father was Royal Navy, serving mostly on our carrier HMS Invincible. He was present for the Gulf and Yugoslavia, he was a marine engineer. I almost joined the RAF throughout the UAS (University Air Squadron), but by the time I had researched it and gone to apply, I'd missed the cut-off date by 2 days! I could have waited a year but decided against it and just went to university. And nobody else in my family cohort (nan and granddad's grandchildren) joined the military, my father was the last.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

During the Falklands War my father was at the tail end of his time on HMS Coventry, a Type 42 Destroyer. He was supposed to disembark on the way at Gibraltar but was unable to. He was finally helicoptered off Coventry on the morning of 25th May, 1982. She was sunk a few hours later and was hit in the engine room which was his duty station, the engineer that took over his station was killed.

[@wilfdarr]

I don't think that's what they're thinking: the Chinese military has had 4 combat related deaths this decade. It's now that there is no social net for parents in China, their kids are a major part of their retirement planning, so to have your only child forgo a good career for service just isn't acceptable to many Chinese parents, and the two child policy won't start producing 18 year olds for another decade

[@Riceball01]

Way to go. Best of luck to you in boot camp. Two pieces of advice that helped me get through boot camp ages ago. Just take it one day at a time; don't think of how many days you've been in and how many more until graduation. Second, don't volunteer for anything. If one of your DIs approaches your platoon and asks for volunteers, don't raise your hand. Whatever they want volunteers for it's not going to be for anything good like cake and ice cream.

[@user-uv4yw7hv2c]

Joining the beloved Corps, eh? Just remember everything in boot camp has a method to a madness. It’s all a test. They just want to see how much it’s going to take to break you. They’re gonna. Prepare for it. As for the fleet, well, I’ll just say the Marine Corps makes way for those who “can make it happen” versus those who make excuses. Good luck in your future decisions.

[@bhubankumarchhetri3311]

Who told you that Chinese have recruits problems?? China have already more than 2 million soilders serving their nation .actually West Country like Europe , US , UK , canada NATO , They don’t have mens for recruits for army .

[@kevinrogers7650]

You believe propaganda. The US frequently rescues PLA soldiers from remote regions and bring them to the warm beaches of Southern California. All the American women prefer Chinese soldiers to American men. Get all your soldier friends to come and live the good life. We are running low on American women, so you'll need to hurry.

[@OlympusMons1969]

Love your channel dude. I wasn't getting notifications and I was unsubscribed. Back!

[@AHersheyHere]

China: Why are our recruitment numbers down? Also China: Our pilot's families have to have a clean political history.

[@t.dickinson7942]

No wonder their pilots are so bad.

[@hi-qz4tl]

在中国山东，想要当上空军，必须要有优秀学习成绩并且身体素质很好以及好的视力，但山东学习竞争严重，通常十几万人争夺几百个优秀学校名额，大多数学生因为只顾着学习，导致视力下降以及身体素质低下，这本身就很矛盾

[@nkl7345]

Reason is Chinese pilots defecting to Taiwan happened, vice versa as well

[@zee7056]

​@@nkl7345I was wondering about that aspect as well. Clean political history to reduce the risk of one of their pilots defecting.

[@nkl7345]

@@zee7056 yep, just check the Wikipedia listing for Chinese and Taiwanese pilots defecting to the other side. I'm surprised at how often it occurred

[@dalestark3343]

Brilliant report T&P staff.

[@hypergraphic]

Cappy: "if I didn't make it back from Iraq it would be no big deal" I'm sure your parents recoil in horror at that statement 😂

[@_BAYOU_]

I think the one major thing that a lot of people seem to overlook on the recruiting problem is the fact that we can go to KZbin and see what real war is like and understand that we do not want to be in that situation

[@christiandauz3742]

Only volunteers are those that have stayed in Ukraine fighting for the Ukrainians One of the few, by comparison, wars in which there is a clear moral side

[@bestieswithtesties]

Nah an overwhelming majority of people definitely romanticize war. We've all been conditioned to do so through movies/TV and video games etc. The only thing KZbin has to do with anything is that everyone would rather be a KZbinr or "influencer" and make millions doing fun stuff rather than enlisting and having to do a bunch of manual labor for low pay.

[@wedemboyz2783]

@@bestieswithtestiesidk about you but running away from 300$ drones with grenades doesn’t sound too fun. I Used to want to join the marines until I realized I would just be a number on a sheet.

[@rangerrick2246]

outside of there not being KZbin in China there is plenty of "war" on TicTok. I live in China and if you can't get rich, parents won't let their kids do it

[@rbs1997]

A point i was making a while ago to an older person who thought new generations are weak

[@MM22966]

There is an old Chinese expression: "You do not use good iron for nails, nor good men for soldiers." While you can't read too much into a saying, but I have found it to be an indicator of how they feel about the military.

[@dominuslogik484]

Chinese culture seems to be painfully pessimistic at its core from all the proverbs that I often find quoted from them. at least any proverbs that are more recent and not from the height of one of the old Imperial eras.

[@willywonka4340]

the soldiers are expected to be cannon fodders. Got it. 😂

[@gr6373]

​@@willywonka4340Doctrinally until recently

[@wilfdarr]

​@@willywonka4340Not just the soldiers, all Chinese in general: the individual has no value outside their value to China

[@badluck5647]

With youth unemployment so high, you think it would it would be easier to find recruits.

[@aaron2709]

I appreciate all the research you put into this subject. Very good.

[@Joe_1sr9]

Another very informative video. Thanks🎉

[@Weeboslav]

"they see military service as blue collar uneducated job" which is a polar opposite than how military service was seen in ex-Yugoslavia,where you(as male)could not get premitsion from your potential father-in-law to marry his daughter if you haven't served a military(which was mandatory back then). That happen to my father with his high-school sweetheart...

[@altoria-yhy]

实际上在中国，想要当兵至少要高中毕业，想要做军官的话要读军校，即使是最差的军校的录取分数也高于大多数大学。解放军现役人员中，接受过高等教育的人占比接近60%，并且这一比例正在逐年上涨。

[@lilacghoste8366]

This won't work with gen z and their no relationship

[@killsina3271]

@@altoria-yhy好男不当兵，好铁不打钉。把学习成绩差无法管教的孩子送去部队锻炼一直是中国传统

[@Norbrookc]

One of the reasons the military switched to using running shoes for PT was the number of stress fractures and other injuries recruits were experiencing in basic training. When I joined back in '79, the "PT Uniform" was you took off your shirt. That was it. You did everything in a t-shirt, fatigue pants, and combat boots. Yes, that included the runs. I should also point out that what is being discussed about the problems the PLA is experiencing is pretty much what the US experienced - and still does to an extent. There have been a few scandals over the decades about the problems with the missile officers for example.

[@sandran17]

Train smarter not harder!

[@HereWeGoCrypto]

Its definitely diet based too. The higher consumption of carbs vs protein has led to weaker bones. When you have such a large population its hard to feed them all meat.

[@rangerrick2246]

As a university teacher in China I can tell you "physical sports isn't something they do". Chinese have a total lack of physical training and when it comes to PT in grade or high school, most can't complete the "competition". You should also know that EVERY student is required to attend "military" training exercises at the school each fall. This includes toy or wooden guns and thought training where communist propaganda is fed to them. All in all, they don't like any physical activity and the sports we have in the US at least let kids continue as they grow older. Other than basketball or soccer, there isn't any "team" sports that require this dedication. Totally different thinking, but they'll play computer games for days on end

[@mikoto7693]

To be honest, I’m not sure what the benefits are to working people so hard that their bones break.

[@RokeJulianLockhart.s13ouq]

I've never understood how that's supposed to improve that. I hated PT solely because I'd have to change from my regular uniform into those hideous shorts and running shoes. Without the ankle support of the boots, aren't you just more likely to injure yourself?

[@osip7315]

surprisingly well reasoned and insightful

[@moredown1303]

lovely video as always

[@MM22966]

Something Cappy alluded to but didn't get into is that the Chinese military is a radically different thing compared to 30-40 years ago. Before about 1992 or so, they were primarily a very large militia/light infantry army with a navy and air force subordinate to it. (That is why you still have PLAAF and PLAN as their names). They have very little gear or technical capability, and no ability to project force even as far as Taiwan. So they are trying/continuing to build a modern, Western-style 1st World military while also facing a radically changing economy and country.

[@doujinflip]

Post-Mao China was racing to get rich and developed before their population base gets old and cost-sensitive manufacturing reliances offshored. Clearly they're failing.

[@elmohead]

Clearly they are falling into the number 2 or 1 economy depending on how you calculate it.

[@doujinflip]

They’re #2, but closer to Japan who is only 1/10 of the people and even less of the natural resources than they are to the US. The way their economy is stalling (structural not cyclical), even their economic rank trends to fall just like their population one.

[@Jkl62200]

China's economy is far closer to the USA's than to Japan's. For 2023, Japan's GDP is only 4T while China's 18T and the US is 27T. Chnia's GDP by PPP has been bigger than the US for a number of years now@@doujinflip

[@takeoffthesunglasses]

There is little point trying to be 1st world military if you up against a phalanx of opponents for have hundreds of years of naval military history. (please no replies about how China once had a navy 1,000 years ago 🙂). China is against a rearming Japan, USA, Australia, UK, Taiwan, Phillipines etc etc. It really doesn't matter what they do. It won't be enough.

[@lucasharder3745]

If every country is suffering from recruitment problems it goes to show that if it were up to the people there would be nearly no war.

[@mikoto7693]

Hmm. Interesting school of thought. You might be onto something there as many recruits throughout history usually joined to escape poverty or starvation.

[@freelnxer]

Or they just use AI to fight the war. NO JARHEAD NEEDED.🤖

[@specag31]

During Vietnam, there was a protest meme : "What if they threw a war and nobody came."

[@knoll9812]

People have changed They don't think they should die for governments that they don't trust. Note I say government as people don't think they are dying for their country anymore but for their government

[@texasranger24]

With people being more and more connected, cultures being exchanged, we want war less and less. War always serves the elites, never the dying soldiers. Would i die for Bidens policies and Pelosis Raytheon stocks? HELL NO! What i would do is join a local militia or self defense force. Guaranteed that i never have to go and die abroad. Only fight to save my hometown if i have to. And where i am encouraged to be the strongest, best version of myself with the greatest amount of national pride. But the US military wants black queers to die on the other side of the globe. That ain't me.

[@franckbrunie4759]

Wow! This an impressive amount of data compiled and presented in a synthetic way. And I am also impressed by variety of angles from which this subject was treated, social, historical, military, health, education, etc.

[@shanepope1000]

Well presented!!

[@a15thcenturysuitofgothicarmor]

#5 Same as here, people don't want to die for a government that hates them.

[@THE-X-Force]

Where is "here" ?

[@a15thcenturysuitofgothicarmor]

@@THE-X-Force US

[@samsonsoturian6013]

You should talk

[@mikoto7693]

That’s universal. All governments hate their poorest citizens who can’t afford much and don’t bring in big tax revenue.

[@mbaxter22]

Meanwhile the elites of the world are impatiently waiting for robot armies to truly become a thing…

[@tomizatko3138]

Until the robots become sentient and refuse to fight as well.😂

[@jamesedwardladislazerrudo1378]

​@@tomizatko3138 Unless they put human brain and heart.

[@bestieswithtesties]

​@@tomizatko3138Our robot overlords all have one single hivemind. It's a single entity. Individual specimens are disposable.

[@nobleman9393]

Skynet exists to protect you, please do not resist.

[@TheWhiteWolf2077]

Nah- A.I. will become more intelligent than humans and we will have neural interfaces where machines can learn to simulate human emotions so well you cant tell the difference or humans and machines will intergrate into a new lifeform. This is the future not anytime soon, but it will happen. @@jamesedwardladislazerrudo1378

[@Adroit1911]

An add for morgan and morgan!!!! From T&P?? Awesome add spot.

[@Circa1664]

Shin stress fractures are caused by bad running form. Good running form is impossible in combat boots/kit, however it is possible to have "less bad" form with a dedication to developing certain techniques. The problem is that this training is not widely accessible and takes time. If you've already joined up and haven't started, it's too late. Also, as a former running form instructor I can attest that it is easier to teach proper form to someone who hasn't run much before than to retrain a runner with established bad form.

[@andrewalderman9489]

12 years ago, I worked as a teacher in Beijing. The one thing I noticed about the Chinese is a distrust of the government, and a general lack of patriotism. They are proud of Chinese culture, but not necessarily of the nation of China.

[@laulaja-7186]

In a superpower generally, individuals feel less need to identify with their country. Reckon it will get along fine without them. Strong and widespread patriotism makes more sense in small countries with a real threat of annihilation.

[@ytnewwave6]

Their government is communist. Communists always lie, so they got tire and have heard enough of lies all their lives.

[@loremasteringwion9930]

I currently work in China, and this is not true at all. Chinese people have a high regard for their government and are becoming more and more hypernationalistic, patriotic, and anti-west. I have American friends who have been abused simply because they were American

[@user-os5ou4kc2q]

12年中国改变了很多。

[@creazytinr]

keyword ''12 years ago''

[@evilwelshman]

In terms of the interaction between China's One Child Policy and military recruitment, an important piece of context is the importance Chinese families traditionally place on family lineage and passing on the family name. With the One Child Policy, the family name is extinguished following the death of the child - the risk of which increases if the child joins the military.

[@formidablesloth1806]

This is the biggest factor I believe

[@ashleylaflor22]

Also the child is supposed to take care of the parents and grandparents, so if the son dies, no passing of the name and no retirement plan.

[@evilwelshman]

@@ashleylaflor22 Especially when you put it into the context of traditional cultural norms, where parents would then feel answerable to the ancestors why they allowed their lineage to be extinguished. This persists even when one doesn't actually believe in an afterlife, etc but rather a sense of familial moral responsibility/duty.

[@nickl5658]

@@ashleylaflor22 Sure chinese families love sons alot.. but you are thinking way to much of the isolated American nuclear family. Got to remember Chinese families are clannish. Everyone has their place. Only the eldest son's eldest son is of vital importance to the family. Only he carries family genealogy records. Head of family and such. Sons of second and third sons are less important and if need be are expected to protect their patrilineal cousin who is the eldest son, eldest son. Threaten the eldest son's eldest son... and you will find "families willing to sacrifice their only son".

[@ashleylaflor22]

@@nickl5658 my husband is Chinese, nice try, just take the W.

[@tinodinh3181]

Great reporting…far easier to digest than a bland RAND or ODNI report.

[@scipioafricanus4875]

Thanks!

[@Crimethoughtfull]

It is so sweet the way you're like "all those places, I'm sure, are lovely to live in, but not maybe to be stationed in"...your efforts at balance are amazing and I love it. But I have to say, this video is encouraging--our biggest potential enemy is lacking in key ways...so that's cool.

[@adambrande]

lol they're lacking what we're exactly lacking too so that weakness is neglible

[@dead-claudia]

@@adambrandetho we're a bit more capable of weathering it due to our tech and military structure

[@boomie54]

Ordinary people rarely cause a war, more people are discovering that war is something governments start while the people have to fight them.

[@AlexKarel-bh3yy]

💚💚💚💜💙

[@eprofengr6670]

Good report.. Thanks for sharing. Have you done a similar report on Russia or Iran?

[@mandrakemalloy]

I like the cheeky "mostry volunteer" at 16:27.

[@dimasakbar7668]

I have said this elsewhere and will says this again, the fact that military service sector had major issue in retention and recruitment is actually a flex for that nation civilian sector. Considering economy nowadays, there are way to exert influence without riflemen.

[@J_X999]

Life isn't easy for the young people of any country, not just China. Went to Canada last summer and spoke to some of the locals. The way they spoke about the housing crisis genuinely made me question whether capitalism is as good as I thought before LOL. Pessimistic youth is a global problem, usually from the same causes.

[@robertduluth8994]

Dis you not learn about the gilded age? How is that your first time questioning capitalism

[@J_X999]

@@robertduluth8994 Because I'm old and bought my property a while ago.

[@user-bi7xd8ry5p]

The property related problems that capitalism can cause were known since the 19th century. People, however, aren't educated enough to actually know.

[@doujinflip]

The Gilded Age and the Great Depression that followed had to be tempered with "socialist" solutions like labor unions and welfare improvements (e.g. Social Security). The ones who didn't implement such mild "socialism" ironically just ended up deeper in more extreme Communism/Fascism.

[@J_X999]

@@doujinflip Agreed. I think the socialist idea of housing being for people and not profit is necessary.

[@conqc20]

Quiet Quitting was stupid, from what i saw its just doing the job your paid to do and no more. "lying flat" is different, its doing less work and its living a life single, having no kids, no mortage, no marriage. Its living the minimum and its sad because these young people have given up on things in life they see as being unobtainable no matter how hard they work. So why bother?

[@stonefish1318]

Interesting topic choice! I would love to see more about the huma Ressource part of ojter armies in the world. How motivated are they really? How strong are they integrated into their society and culture?

[@AppleAirsoft]

I mean like, go die for corrupt oligarchs is just as unappealing as go die for a corrupt dictator.

[@cedhome7945]

Woke won't fight so why should everyone fight for them?

[@AppleAirsoft]

@@cedhome7945 define 'woke'

[@bulletflight]

​@@cedhome7945Thank you for admitting that you lost the argument through your silence.

[@edgaraf9411]

@@cedhome7945 except you and woke are in it together, same as me with both of you.

[@rayz5469]

Well, China has not had a single war in the last 40 years. Better ask US veterans why did they fight in Iraq and Afghanistan?

[@Sullixio]

-9000 social credit score

[@morgziliuz1972]

🤯〽️‼️

[@commandervile394]

IT'S UNDER NINE THOUSAAAAAAND!

[@ctnke]

wow bro so original

[@richbaker4544]

so original

[@boBo-gn9rt]

阿富汗牧羊人 & 美军

[@TheAlchemisification]

I love how you weave every day terminology into your videos.

[@mitchspurlock3626]

Great entertaining and educational video!

[@jacksmith-mu3ee]

Source trust me bro

[@Bombcop38]

VA has gotten so much better since Community Care. I see 8 different specialists and my closest hospital was 200+ miles. I was driving it almost every week. Now I pick my own doctor and it is like night and day.

[@rexlogan5385]

Excellent content thanks for sharing

[@sarthakmishra1415]

Thanks for the video!!

[@rrontheboss]

hey task and purpose can you mention the armed forces of kosovo or the strategy in the kosovos defence i rlly appreciate it bc my country was slaughturt by the yugoslav wars ect so i hope you reply this comment and love your vids♥♥♥♥♥♥

[@GeorgesSegundo]

What is the author of that book on Strategy behind you brother?

[@spirosgreek1171]

Your content is really well made and researched, great job! I would really like to see your opinion on the Hellenic Army and the greek-turkish tensions if such a video is in your plans

[@badluck5647]

You know a military is terrible when you can't find recruits when youth unemployment is so high.

[@J_X999]

Read the description. If China recruited males regardless of qualifications, they'd have no problem with their military recruitment. Duh?

[@badluck5647]

@@J_X999 The military still has to compete with the private sector for technical jobs. Are you saying youth unemployment is only affecting unrelated industries? It is hard to tell what type of jobs young people can't find because China is now censoring the bad news.

[@naitnait00]

@@J_X999 But you can argue the population in China is quite overeducated since labour/manufacturing has been looked-down upon. "Everyone" wants to work in tech, they got a relevant degree and turns out there aren't nearly enough positions, since everyone wants to work tech. Work culture with hours is especially terrible in tech, yet people comply with lots of mandatory overtime since they are disposable and easily replaced. Annual pay is certainly good, but working 996 means your life is work.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

​@@naitnait00not necessarily tech, but office/manager jobs. They want to be the boss, not a badass

[@awjames1121]

Thanks for your view??.. so mighty china needs to prepare for sure ways to attract all Chinese to automatic wants to serve in army willingly???.... .

[@TThomas-si7yn]

Hahaha!! "How do you think I got in?" You're a good guy, Cappy!! I hope that's spelled correctly....

[@armorbearer9702]

(3:11) Is there a similar requirement if you want to operate a tank?

[@timehaley]

Excellent research and coverage of the topic.

[@Taskandpurpose]

I worked closely on the research and writing of this episode with someone who lives in Hong Kong . I owe a lot to their great work. I didn’t use their full name in case on the off chance he faced any repercussions

[@danielclawson2099]

​@@TaskandpurposeGood job on finding a local source. It lends credibility to your work.

[@TouringWolf42]

In my opinion people don't want to join the US armed forces in general is because of the reputation its gathered from the interventions in the middle east and the government being lackluster in actually giving troops retirement benefits.

[@lilacghoste8366]

Nah US military is a sheeetheads compared to EU when it comes to regulation on man.

[@feralfoods]

so funny that the "shenyun" chinese dance show is the commercial paired with this episode. hilarious!

[@EricScoles]

holy crap was that frank grillo in the wolf warrior clip?!

[@sirclifforddrakemalcolmjac5870]

Computers and the dang internet!!😆😆 Love your channel cappy!!🤘🤘😁😁

[@redshinoutdoors]

Here’s a WILD idea: maybe if people are not interested in joining the military, let’s just not do the war thing anymore.

[@sotch2271]

That is not human

[@teezzmegee972]

Could've agreed more

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

@@teezzmegee972 then why don't you?

[@georgewhitworth9742]

Lol childish thinking.

[@wtfdtreats]

@@sotch2271you mean _narcissistic-dark-triadic-money-hungry-power-and-wealth-seeking human_

[@xa-12musk8]

I see the Lawrence Freedman Strategy book in the background😂!

[@scipioafricanus4875]

Enlightening great report people are same no matter what the culture thanks

[@mobius1504]

"Have you ever tried taking off and firing missile in DCS? you basically needs a 4 week cert program" *Laughs in Chucks 1 Min DCS

[@junkim4022]

12:32 is Korea, you can see the traditional palace guards standing around the perimeter, along with part of the korean flag being held by the guy in blue in the foreground

[@meilinchan7314]

Yes but Daejoseon copied a lot of traits and systems from Ming China, and Korea maintains many Confucianist rituals, hence the use of that image.

[@junkim4022]

@@meilinchan7314 so i guess images of China can be used in Soviet propaganda since you know China is currently influenced by communism since China's communism is based off the USSR. GTFO here with that 'logic'

[@BC-kl9pr]

Keep up the great work 😼

[@chunmao389]

Having lived in, taught in China and experience the quality of some of their high schools firsthand, I do think that they will easily produce those that are needed, and I feel that the current economic difficulties will only accelerate that effect, however, there are definitely nuances when you start talking about city boys versus country boys, and there is an inverse relationship to education in that regard

[@effexon]

I like how Chris is always ready to join, even proper military suit ready.

[@ripsnorter185]

0:05 you know you made it big time when the Capmeister himself is using ur hell march vid

[@j61610]

Well studied & in depth report,. Thank you.

[@m.s.9535]

2 million active and 40 - 70 million practical reservist.

[@JohnSavickas]

The writting for your channel is incredible! At some point some big network is going to offer you a huge sum of money to join them. Ha Ho! Been watching your channel when you only had a few thousand subcripbers. Luv seeing channels take off to the moon!

[@Taskandpurpose]

Thanks for the kind words man ! I owe a lot to my team of researchers and writers that I work closely with on these episodes . And a lot of the work is done by the real reporters who are on the ground in these locations! They deserve the credit

[@huwhitecavebeast1972]

Reason #5: They aren't joining the army because they are all crossing the southern border.

[@snotgobblerific]

They're all still in the army

[@willywonka4340]

Brett Weinstein interview by Carlson was spot-on. 👍

[@AndresAlfaroAtonal]

Americans flee to México. And american military too. Americans wants to be mexican

[@joeywheelerii9136]

​@AndresAlfaroAtonal No mostly just Bourgeois Liberals fleeing the consequences of their actions. Bourgeois Liberals have no loyalty.

[@willywonka4340]

4:39 😂

[@Ragatokk]

Man, you should really have added Finland on that % of people serve slide @0:34

[@seandigan1676]

Your from Florida? Morgan and Morgan for the people

[@YappistanPresident]

-500 Social Credit

[@eldritchmorgasm4018]

Those "Wolf Warrior" movies are fucking hilarious 😂

[@christopherpaul1012]

Good sit rep

[@barryking5993]

Yup I Have Morgan And Morgan Representing Me In The Camp Lejeune Water Case

[@rickastely996]

Honestly I am glade to see this, to quote George Orwell "All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting."

[@BigZebraCom]

I heard that after joining the PLA, you feel like joining again 20 minutes later.

[@JustThatOneRandomGuy]

As a Taiwanese (also former average infantryman), i am very pleased with the simplified breakdown of Chinese culture, which makes sense cause you had a HK national with you. I would like to add on something else about the one child policy: The one child policy not only made families hesitant in sending their only child away, but also there was a huge demographic shift to males because traditional chinese culture values men over women. So on top of all the other issues Chris mentioned, now you have young guys roaming around trying to find love in a world 100x worse than Tinder. On the culture side, this is also a problem Taiwan has, though different. America has a long history of being the freedom fighters, fighting Nazis and authoritarians around the world since WWII. That idea gets past down generation to generation and still remains strong and growing to this day (especially with 9/11), and as such, there is a strong culture of joining the military to fight for freedom and liberty, and ofc free money for college and social mobility. China, however, doesn't have that. As much as the CCP wants to paint the PLA as revolutionaries, to the average Chinese citizen, they don't see a point of joining the military. Do you get money for college? No. Are your parents and the society proud of you? No. Are you fighting for freedom and against oppression? My god China is already one, what you gonna do? Fight and bleed the beast from the inside? America has basically two types of people: one who are proud of their kids going to college and a good college, and one who are proud their son's and daughter's served the flag, and most of the time, these two types of people are the same. China only has the former, not even an inkling of the latter.

[@dylannolan7454]

I’m a young male in the USA. My hobbies include, running, lifting weights and shooting guns, I was going to join the army with the hopes of going combat arms and then JAG later in my career, but Covid changed that. They’re going to need to invoke the selective to service act to get me to join.

[@chiefthomas5342]

Do one on the UK next

[@cedhome7945]

Woke won't fight so why should everyone else?

[@J_X999]

The UK needs to sort itself out.

[@livethefuture2492]

Ha! You and what army? ...no like seriously what army?

[@OperatorJackYT]

I would like to see a UK video

[@atari947]

England doesn't need an army. Just a competent navy and the Marines, a home army and, and the Paraa

[@bamkobe1]

They’re really good at marching. I give them that

[@gprovidakes]

Like other countries as the economy tanks especially for youth military service becomes vital option so situation might change. However the population crisis will make Service hard to support.