Dopey"the power of the gun is always conditional on the power of...

Dopey

"the power of the gun is always conditional on the power of the money. Money always has been (and is) the responsibility of the sovereign."

Interesting interpretation.

Like the French Republican Army during the rise of Napoleon(1792-1799), the PLA has a high level of financial independence from the state. I think that the CCP's control over the PLA is nominal, and if their interests didn't coincide, the PLA would look after itself first.

The CCP is under a lot of pressure to keep the economy rolling along because (like the Japanese Yakuza) the PLA doesn't like loosing money.

I don't think it is wise to risk one's personal capital in jurisdiction where such dynamics are at work.

Cheers