Amid the intensifying global military competition, many countries' armies appear well-equipped and large in size on the surface, but actually hide numerous insurmountable defects, which are humorously referred to as "paper tigers" by the outside world.
The term "paper tiger" refers to an army that appears strong but is actually weak and easily defeated in actual combat. France, for example, was thoroughly defeated by China in the Sino-French War in history, exposing its military weaknesses, while the other four countries also face similar risks in modern warfare due to their own issues.
France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has a long military tradition, but it is not invincible in history. The Sino-French War from 1884 to 1885 is a typical example. At that time, the French navy destroyed the Chinese Fujian fleet in the Ma Wei Sea Battle, demonstrating its maritime superiority.
However, in subsequent land battles, the French army was defeated by the Qing forces in the Zhennanguan Campaign, leading to the fall of the Joffre government. This war exposed the confusion in command and lack of logistics of the French army when facing tenacious resistance.
Although the Qing army was technologically backward at the time, its numerical advantage and familiarity with the terrain compensated for the technological gap, while the French failed to respond effectively, ultimately suffering a defeat. This failure not only embarrassed France in front of China but also left a historical footnote of "paper tiger" for future generations.
Today, France remains one of the world's major military powers. According to the Global Firepower Index of 2025, France ranks seventh in military strength, with 270,000 active-duty soldiers and 63,700 reserve personnel, totaling about 435,000 troops. However, the actual effectiveness of the French army is constrained by multiple factors.
Firstly, low morale and management chaos are core issues of the French military. Due to difficulties in conscription domestically, France highly relies on the Foreign Legion, a unit composed of approximately 9,600 soldiers from 150 countries. Although the Foreign Legion is known for strict discipline, the complex backgrounds of its members may affect loyalty and combat motivation. Additionally, there is a lack of transparency in the allocation of French military spending, leading to resource waste and inefficiency in management.
Secondly, France's defense policy oscillates between independence and reliance on NATO, causing the dispersion of strategic resources. France attempts to reduce dependence on the United States by developing its own weapon systems, but the development progress is slow. For instance, its drone technology still lags behind that of the United States and China, making it difficult to meet the demands of modern warfare.
Since the Korean War, South Korea has built a powerful military force with the support of the United States. According to the Global Firepower Index of 2025, South Korea ranks fifth in military strength, with 600,000 active-duty soldiers and 3.1 million reserve personnel, equipped with a large number of U.S.-made equipment such as M1A2 tanks and F-15K fighters. However, its military autonomy is severely limited.
The biggest weakness of the South Korean military is its dependence on the United States. During wartime, the command authority is still controlled by the U.S.-South Korea Joint Command, with the United States providing commanders and South Korea merely serving as vice commanders. Although the South Korean government has pushed for the transfer of command authority for years, this process has not been completed as of 2025. This dependency makes the South Korean military highly reliant on U.S. support in training, equipment, and strategy. For example, U.S. forces stationed in South Korea prioritize their own needs, leaving South Korea to use leftover resources, which limits the quality of training and the speed of equipment upgrades.
In addition, the South Korean military lacks independent combat experience. In United Nations peacekeeping missions, its forces mainly undertake logistical support, rarely engaging in frontline combat. At the same time, South Korea faces an aging population problem, resulting in inconsistent quality of soldiers under the conscription system, further weakening combat effectiveness.
The military dependence of South Korea directly affects its strategic initiative on the Korean Peninsula. In recent years, South Korea has proposed the "PISU" strategy to deter North Korea, but its implementation capability would be greatly reduced without U.S. command support. If the situation on the Korean Peninsula deteriorates, South Korea may struggle to effectively respond to North Korea's nuclear threats or cyberattacks, which could exacerbate regional tensions.
Thailand was once known for its military power in Southeast Asia, possessing the region's only aircraft carrier, the "Chakri Naruebet." However, this carrier has been unable to carry fixed-wing aircraft since 2006 due to budget constraints, becoming a tourist attraction and helicopter platform. Reports from 2024 indicate that it is mainly used for disaster relief, with almost no military function. The Thai military has 300,000 regular troops, but its combat capability was severely restricted in 2025 due to internal problems.
The biggest problem of the Thai military is corruption and poor management. The number of officers far exceeds the actual demand, with over 2,000 generals among the 300,000 troops, resulting in a bloated management structure. Military funds are often misused for personal purposes, and there is significant waste in equipment procurement. For example, the maintenance costs of the "Chakri Naruebet" are high, yet it has not played a practical role in combat. This culture of corruption stems from Thailand's monarchy political system, where the elite families control military power, marginalizing military expertise and leading to lax discipline within the forces.
The inefficiency of the Thai military has weakened its influence in Southeast Asia. In the context of the South China Sea disputes and the turbulent situation in Myanmar, Thailand could have played a greater role, but its "paper tiger" nature as a military force makes it difficult to cope with regional challenges. This could lead to an imbalance of power in Southeast Asia, creating space for external powers to intervene.
India has one of the largest volunteer armies in the world. According to 2025 data, its active military strength reaches 1.44 million, with 5.1 million reserves, and a defense budget of $81 billion. However, its combat effectiveness is limited by internal issues and technological dependence.
The Indian army faces multiple challenges. First, corruption is severe. Between 2000 and 2023, the Indian army recorded more than 1,800 cases of corruption, with 1,080 cases between 2013 and 2022, involving procurement and resource allocation. Second, India heavily relies on imported weapons, accounting for 9.8% of global arms imports in 2023, mainly supplied by Russia and France. Although the government promotes domestic production, such as the C-295 transport aircraft project, core technologies remain dependent on other countries. Additionally, although the caste system has no official status in the military, traditional caste-based groupings still affect internal cohesion.
The military shortcomings of India limit its strategic position in South Asia. In the Sino-Indian border conflicts, India invested a lot of resources, but the lack of logistics support and equipment adaptability was exposed. If India were to engage in large-scale conflicts with Pakistan or China, its dependence on imports could lead to supply chain disruptions, seriously weakening its ability to sustain operations. This not only threatens India's own security but could also destabilize the South Asian region.
Iran is known for its military strength in the Middle East, ranking 16th in global military strength in 2025, with a large number of troops and missile capabilities. However, long-term U.S. sanctions have caused its weapon technology to age, making it difficult to compete with modern armies.
The Iranian military faces dual problems of technological backwardness and internal factional struggles. In 2024, Israel's strikes on Iran's missiles and nuclear facilities exposed the vulnerability of its air defense system. Additionally, there are differences between the Revolutionary Guard and the regular army, leading to inefficient resource allocation and command. Although Iran maintains its regional influence through proxy wars, its direct combat capability is limited.
The military shortcomings of Iran have weakened its position in the Middle East. If the U.S. and Israel take larger-scale military actions against it, Iran may find it difficult to respond effectively, which could change the balance of power in the region and affect the strategies of countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey. At the same time, technological backwardness limits Iran's development in the international arms market. Although its missile and drone technology has made some progress, it still has a clear gap compared to the U.S. and Russia, which may force Iran to rely more on diplomatic means rather than military force in the future.
The armies of France, South Korea, Thailand, India, and Iran are considered "paper tigers" due to their respective problems, and their weaknesses will surely be exposed in war. The historical lesson of France being completely defeated by China still serves as a warning today. Amid the rapid increase in global military spending, true combat effectiveness not only depends on financial investment, but also on internal management and strategic autonomy. Whether these "paper tigers" can shed their disguise depends on whether they can face their problems and implement substantive reforms.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7523185521699504680/
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