Business Insider reports that “a recent report from the US Congressional Research Service outlines China’s 2.3 million-member armed forces and sheds light on misconceptions from Western military analysts.”

“Simply put, the report challenges the idea that Westerners can understand China’s military and foreign-policy decisions without first understanding Chinese philosophy and culture of warfare.”

“Unlike the US, China has a media apparatus controlled by the state, so its military reports lack the transparency established by a free press.”