1. Defense Budget & Expenditure
- United States: Defense spending hovers around $877–$916 billion, representing about 3–3.4% of GDP.
- China: Officially reports $224–$245 billion, but adjusted figures estimating actual spending—including R&D and secretive programs—reach $330–$450 billion or more.
2. Personnel
- China: Maintains the world’s largest active-duty force at roughly 2 million personnel.
- United States: Operates with approximately 1.4 million active-duty personnel.
3. Air Power
- USA: Around 13,200 total aircraft, including elite stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35.
- China: Fields about 3,200–3,500 aircraft, among which the J-20 and emerging J-35A stealth fighter lead modernization efforts.
4. Naval Strength & Fleet
- China: Boasts the largest navy by number of vessels—around 370+ ships/submarines with plans aiming for 475 by 2035.
- USA: Maintains a fewer but more tonnage-heavy fleet, including 11 supercarriers, powerful submarines, and ships geared for global reach.
5. Nuclear Arsenal
- USA: Possesses approximately 5,000+ warheads with both first-strike and robust second-strike capabilities.
- China: Estimated to have 500–600 warheads currently, with projections reaching 1,000+ by 2030.
6. Missiles & Strategic Forces
- China: Commands the world’s largest land-based missile arsenal, including thousands of conventionally armed ballistic and cruise missiles.
- Modern Platforms: Development of ICBMs, hypersonic glide vehicles, ballistic missile submarines, and nuclear-capable bombers adds to Beijing’s expanding strike capabilities.
7. Technology, Cyber & Space
- USA: Dominates aerospace, missile defense, satellite tech, and cybersecurity with dedicated institutions like the Space Force.
- China: Rapidly advancing in AI-enabled systems, quantum research, cyber warfare, and space-based capabilities through the PLA Strategic Support Force.
8. Command & Global Strategy
- United States: Maintains an extensive global footprint with bases in over 80 countries, enabling strategic reach across continents.
- China: Primarily focused on regional influence, with limited overseas presence like its base in Djibouti and growing control in the South China Sea.
Strategic Insights & Future Outlook
- China’s Gains: Steady naval expansion, missile build-up, and nuclear redoubling indicate a calculated challenge to U.S. regional dominance.
- U.S. Challenges: Despite technological superiority, experts warn about the U.S. military’s industrial constraints, funding delays, and reliance on aging legacy systems.
- Modern Conflict Considerations: The potential for drone warfare, cyber threats, and limited nuclear scenarios makes strategic balance more complex. Experts caution that planning for nuclear war—even limited—could raise the risks of miscalculation.
- New Regional Hub: Satellite imagery reveals China constructing a vast subterranean military command center near Beijing—indicative of wartime preparedness and long-term strategic planning.
Final Thoughts
While the United States continues to lead in global power projection, advanced platforms, and military alliances, China is making remarkable strides—particularly in regional dominance, missile technology, and naval expansion. Going forward, the U.S. must innovate across procurement, logistics, and emerging domains to maintain its strategic edge in a rapidly shifting balance of power.