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Politics

China's military has an Achilles' heel: Low troop morale

'One-child army' more inclined to add unmanned aircraft and ballistic missiles

Visible military muscle like missiles and tanks is only one component of power. Troop morale is another. © AP

TOKYO -- The Chinese Communist Party has unintentionally revealed weaknesses of the country's military.

One indication came with the building of facilities for launching new intercontinental ballistic missiles in an inland desert region. The other was a series of further attempts to increase childbirths, including measures to help reduce the costly burden of educating children. Behind these moves lurks evidence that the country is addressing concerns regarding troop morale and the military's ability to fight a sustained war.

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