Recently, the Pentagon released the 2023 "China Power Report", which provides a detailed analysis and assessment of China's military strength. According to the report, China currently has 2,400 warplanes, 459**, nearly 500 nuclear warheads, and about 5,000 missiles. The report also warns that the United States should not seek war with China, which has reached formidable levels of military power.
So, what is the military strength of China and the United States?In what areas does China have an advantage and in what areas does it have a disadvantage?What will be the trend of changes in the military strength of China and the United States in the future?This article will compare and analyze the military strength of China and the United States from the four aspects of the army, rocket force, air force, and navy, and reveal the truth about the rise of China's leading forces, as well as the reasons why the United States does not dare to go to war.
In terms of army and rocket forces, China's military strength is significantly superior to that of the United States, and it can even be said that it has stabilized the United States. China's army is much larger than that of the United States, with about 2 million active-duty soldiers, as well as about 20 million reservists and militia. China's army is not only huge in number, but also advanced in equipment, with a large number of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, rocket artillery, anti-aircraft missiles and other equipment. China's army has also established a full-scale war reserve system, which can quickly mobilize and replenish forces in the event of a war.
In terms of rocket forces, China's missile technology is also world-leading, with missiles of various types and ranges, which can carry out precision strikes against various targets in the United States. China's rocket forces have about 5,000 missiles, including medium-range ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000-4,000 kilometers and DF-27 ballistic missiles with a purported range of 5,000-8,000 kilometers. The DF-27 ballistic missile is considered China's "killer weapon" and can carry multiple nuclear warheads to deliver devastating strikes against U.S. bases and aircraft carriers in the Pacific. China's rocket forces also have nearly 500 nuclear warheads, which can form an effective countermeasure to the US nuclear deterrence.
In contrast, the US Army and Rocket Forces are weaker. The U.S. Army is only about 500,000 active-duty soldiers, and its equipment is aging and lacks modern equipment. The U.S. Army also lacks a full-scale war reserve system to quickly mobilize and replenish forces when war breaks out. Although the US rocket force has about 6,000 missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles with a range of 8,000 to 12,000 kilometers and submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a range of 1,500 to 3,000 kilometers, the technical level of these missiles is relatively backward, and some of them even use liquid fuel, which take a long time to launch and are easy to detect and intercept. The U.S. rocket force also has about 1,500 nuclear warheads, although the number exceeds that of China, but due to the restrictions of the U.S. nuclear policy, the U.S. nuclear deterrent force is not stronger than China.
To sum up, in terms of the army and rocket forces, China's military strength is stable over that of the United States, and it has a clear advantage in both quantity and quality. China's army and rocket forces can play an important role in the war, effectively striking at US land and sea targets, and protecting China's land and territorial integrity.
In terms of air force and navy, although China has made great strides in military strength, there is still a certain gap compared with the United States. China's development in the air force and navy needs to be accelerated, trying to catch up with the United States, narrow the gap, and even achieve overtaking.
In terms of the air force, China has about 2,400 fighters, including fifth-generation aircraft such as the J-20, and fourth-generation aircraft such as the J-10, J-11, and J-16. China's air force is not only numerous, but also advanced, with a large number of first-class fighters, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, electronic warfare equipment and other advanced equipment. China's air force has also established a modern command and control system, which can play an important role in warfare, effectively striking at US air and ground targets, and protecting China's airspace and territory.
In comparison, the U.S. Air Force has only about 2,000 fighters, including fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-35, and fourth-generation aircraft such as the F-22, F-15, and F-16. Although the US Air Force is small in number, it is of high quality and has a large number of first-class fighters, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, electronic warfare equipment and other equipment. The U.S. Air Force also has an advanced command and control system that can play an important role in warfare, effectively striking China's air and ground targets, and protecting U.S. national interests and allies.
To sum up, in terms of air force, the gap between China and the United States is not very large, but the United States still has a certain advantage. The US Air Force is slightly superior in quantity and quality, and is more mature in terms of combat experience and level of training. Although China's air force has entered service with fifth-generation aircraft such as the J-20, the number is slightly insufficient, with only about 50 aircraft. In order to narrow the gap with the United States, China may increase the production of J-20 in the future, and at the same time mass-produce J-35 fighters to improve China's air superiority.
In terms of navy, China has about 459**, including 2 aircraft carriers, 8 nuclear submarines, 55 destroyers, 52 frigates, 41 landing ships and other capital ships. China's navy is not only numerous, but also well-equipped, with a large number of anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, anti-submarine aircraft, carrier-based aircraft and other equipment. China's navy has also established a modern command and control system, which can play an important role in warfare, effectively strike at US sea and air targets, and protect China's maritime rights and interests and territorial sovereignty.
In comparison, the U.S. Navy has only about 300**, including 11 aircraft carriers, 14 nuclear submarines, 66 destroyers, 22 frigates, 32 landing ships and other capital ships. Although the US Navy is small in number, it is of high quality and has a large number of anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, anti-submarine aircraft, carrier-based aircraft, and other equipment. The U.S. Navy also has an advanced command and control system that can play an important role in warfare, effectively striking China's sea and air targets, and protecting U.S. national interests and allies.
To sum up, in terms of navy, the gap between China and the United States is relatively obvious, and the United States has a large advantage. The U.S. Navy far surpasses China in both quantity and quality, and is more mature in terms of combat experience and training. Although China's navy has 459 ships**, many of them are small boats with a small displacement. By comparison, the total tonnage of the U.S. combat ** is about 3.2 million tons, far exceeding China's 2.3 million tons. In terms of auxiliary vessels, China also has a large number gap. In order to narrow the gap with the United States, China may increase the construction of large ships such as aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and destroyers in the future, so as to improve China's maritime superiority.
Over time, the gap in military power between China and the United States may change. The United States has gradually slowed down its military development due to deindustrialization, while China, as the world's largest industrial country, has gradually accelerated. In the future, China is expected to gradually narrow the gap with the United States in terms of modern combat system, and even surpass the US military.
In addition to the differences in industrial capacity and development speed, differences in military systems may also be one of the factors for future changes in the military strength of China and the United States. At present, the United States has a problem of mountains within the armed forces, with the four major branches of the armed forces fighting their own battles and lacking the military strength for integration, modernization, and reform. Over time, this problem could lead to a decline in U.S. military power and difficulty in dealing with a complex war environment. In contrast, China's armed forces have implemented a command system of joint operations, and the four major branches of the armed forces have coordinated operations, forming an integrated, modernized, and reformed military force. Over time, this advantage could allow China to grow militarily and be able to cope with a complex war environment.