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The US has the largest military budget in the world. If you combine the military spending of positions 2 - 11, the US still spends 6.4 billion dollars more. And

• rayiner 6y ago
  This calculation has two errors. First, it assumes that China and Russia’s spending is what they publicly disclose, which is highly unlikely. Second, it fails to account for differences in cost. China can build subway for $250 million per km. The US is four to eight times that. The Chinese built their 5th generation fighter for a program cost of $4.5 billion. Ours is better, but it cost ten times that. That reflects vastly higher labor costs, etc. China’s defense budget on paper is $175 billion in nominal dollars. If they get twice as much per nominal dollar (which is just the difference in ordinary purchasing power), they’re at half our defense budget. If they get four times more for their money (the difference in capital projects like building rail) they’re at parity. And of course, you don’t want parity with your enemy. You want an overwhelming advantage.