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China has not “leapfrogged the US military”, you are comparing dissimilar numbers. If you want to compare the real power of a navy, you’re better off comparing
by nickff 6y ago
China has not “leapfrogged the US military”, you are comparing dissimilar numbers. If you want to compare the real power of a navy, you’re better off comparing warship tonnages, while taking into account the force-multiplier effect of forward operating bases. China has many, smaller ships than the USA, and far less power projection capability, especially when it comes to naval aviation.
- throwaway4good 6y ago"Far less power projection capability" That is an important point. It is a strategic objective of the US to be able project massive military power any place in the world. However that is not the case for China (as it is now). China's main strategic goal is secure access to the pacific ocean (even if it is met with an American naval blockade). It is obvious to me that that goal is much cheaper than the American goal.
- nickff 6y agoChina does not have secure access to the Pacific Ocean; U.S. attack submarines and air-launched anti-ship missiles mean that Chinese ships are at risk as soon as they leave the South China Sea, or possibly even port. I think the Chinese objective is to have enough power to deny U.S. access to the South China Sea, and perhaps the sea of Japan. They also want to be able to project power in the case of more limited conflicts, such as civil wars in Africa or the Middle East.
- throwaway4good 6y agoThe wikipedia on the first island chain has a summation of the US military strategy in the South China Sea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_island_chain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_island_chain I think it is a given at this point that the US will loose supremacy in the area because of the size of the Chinese economy and the fact that the South China Sea is their home-turf.