Isn't China economically and militarily stronger than the U.S?

Question

It may seem like they aren't because they've done very little to overtly show it off, but paradoxically I think that's main reason why they are.

Consider whose way of life will have to change most drastically in the upcoming End-Of-Cheap-Oil days. Also consider that the Chinese already have U.S. military tech secrets on hard disk. Also consider that Chinese have been following Sunzi's Art of War to the T while Bush goes off fighting a long protracted war in a far-off state, the #1 sure-fire way to wreck a country's morale and resources.

Answer 1

No. The U.S. economy is 5 times larger than China's, although the U.S. has less than a quarter of China's population.

The Chinese have a larger standing army, but the U.S. has better technology and a much larger navy, and all the nuclear missiles it needs to turn all of China into one big glass parking lot.

Answer 2

In terms of economy CHINA has a lot of catching up to do with the US, even with an economy growing over 8% a year since the 70's CHINA is still behind the US.

As far as militarily, the posters above have it right, though CHINA's standing army is much larger, when you consider the killing ability of each CHINESE soldier versus the amplified killing ability of the US soldier (which is amplified by cutting edge military technology), the US army is much greater in reach and killing ability. Which, as sadistic as it sounds, is what matter during war.

CHINA is going to face a huge problem as the country growns more successful because 2/3 of its people are dirt poor farmers who will start to demand rights and education and access to resources. Right now CHINA deals with this in a totalitarian way, but they can't keep it up as the country's wealth grows. Its funny because you might just see MARX's laborer revolution at some point in the future---but in the Communist country of CHINA.

Hows that for ironic?

Answer 3

Not in the least, we have a much larger economy (people seem to forget all those hundred of millions of chinese living on pennies a day) and a far superior military. Quality outweighs quantity on the modern battlefield. Sure the Chinese have a massive army, but in today's warfare an army is nothing without air cover, naval support, and proper logistics. The Chinese have a fairly static military, fized, unmovable, whereas America can have boots on the ground, a lot of boots on the ground, anywhere within 24 hours.

Answer 4

China is not stronger in either sense than the US. But it certainly has the potential to be. They are still an emerging economy, and though they likely have a massive infantry, their military technology is not as advanced as the American military is.

But I don't think that the Chinese can pull off being a global economic force without having to do away with Economic Socialism at some point.

Answer 5

Many Economists are saying China is actually on the verge of a collapse. It has seen a wealth of growth lately as foriegn investors have been welcomed in. But the infrastructure is still very much xenophobic. Their contradictory regulations will eventually lead to a balancing effect that they haven't planned for. Thus, their assumption of continued growth will eventually be their downfall.

Answer 6

What makes the US the only remaining superpower is its ability to project that power around the world and anywhere in the world.

As big and intimidating as China is they remain, essentially, a regional power. Albeit a really big one. They would be hard pressed to reclaim Taiwan militarily if the US were to oppose it, primarily due to the power of the US Navy.

Answer 7

China has more troops, but we have more advanced weapons. We pour 12 times more money in our military than China does. Militarily, we are probably even.Economically, China is getting there, and they may surpass the US, but India will surpass the US or become even with it in a couple of years, but no, we are still stronger economically.

Answer 8

They would only mess with us if they decided their population growth was totally out of control and needed a drastic reduction. Just because they have a billion plus people doesnt mean anything, push a few buttons, wait an hour and count the survivors stumbling around the ruins.

Answer 9

you have got two countries run two very different ways the USA wants to show the world how much power it's got , and needs to prove it's self , then we take China mmmmm, lets take a look shall we, more then 5 times the population of the USA, with more then 5 times it's wealth as well, it's a country that doesn't need to show the world how powerful it is , but **** yourself if it ever does . it's a country that doesn't need to listen to anyone but it's neighbours listen to her if it wasn't for China north k would have started shoot it's mouth off at the USA that could have been bad , with little bush running the place but thank god for miss rice !!!

Answer 10

nope, us is better, our government makes sure of that. China is large, but is filled with factories that pay their employees about 15 cents a day, they provide a slum for them to live in outside of these factories. Employees only get to go home one time a year. February for their new years, at this time their port closes for the entire month, due to the fact that it takes most of the people weeks to get home to their family cause they live so far away and they are to poor to afford adequate transportation.