Can the US keep its weapons tech lead over China?

Question

My concern is that, while US tech is enjoys a substantial technological lead, in future it simply won't be enough to counter China's 5- 1 advantadge in PEOPLE - which seems to be getting closer to 6-1 than 4-1.

Think of it this way - five F-15's will pulverise a single F-22. The Chinese army cannot YET traverse the Taiwan straits without taking huge losses for Taiwan's air forces; but their own air force is expanding and modernising rapidly, and again - they'll very soon be able to throw far more air power at Taiwan, because of sheer numbers, than Taiwan can handle.

With the same growth rate - which is driven simply by China being able to AFFORD more hardware to arm more soldiers/sailors/airmen - it's only a matter of a decade - maybe two - until China can float more carriers in the Pacific than the US can. Not as advanced, thankfully, but still more sheer firepower, because of sheer numbers.

How long will the US's tech advantadge allow it to keep the OVERALL advantadge?

Answer 1

Why have an arms race with the United States number 1 business partner?

Answer 2

Technology always comes hand in hand with the economy. It is true that the U.S. has the distinct lead over China on present weapons technology. It will continue to be so in the not so distant future. The Chinese economy had been growing at a staggering rate of 10 percent yearly for the last five years. The American economy had been growing at a rate of 3 percent yearly during the same period. Furthermore, the cost of the American war in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to mount. If these wars will continue for many more years plus the possibility of war with Iran, then the American economy will suffer in the long term. If the trend continue to be like this for ten to twenty years down the line, the Chinese economy will have surpassed the American economy. With a lot of money to spare, the Chinese can increasingly afford to develop expensive and sophisticated technologies. The opposite will be happening to the U.S.. With continously decreasing money, the U.S. will find it more and more difficult to afford such expensive investments.

In twenty years time, these realities will be right in front of our very eyes.

Answer 3

I think that you are making a whole lot of assumptions. granted the China population is 5 or 6 times that of the US. However, their income per capita is no where near equal, let alone ahead. They may have more human bodies to count, but that doesn't automatically equate to the fact that they can spend more on defense. And, on the flip side of the coin, with the F-15 vs. F-22 statement that you made, the average 2,000 bomb during the Iraq war would have killed say 50 people or less, but that same bomb in China might kill as many as 200 or injure more than that. Look at the density of the population of China. They aren't spread out all over the country, but rather closely housed in major cities. destroying those cities would be easier with the technology advantages we have. However, we couldn't win a war, and our own economy would be in deep do-do.

Answer 4

At this moment, China would loose the war.
She is not economically strong enough nor does she have the military techology to fight a technological battle; however, if the battle should become a matter of foot solidering, the sheer numbers would be able to take the decimation from US technology long enough to reach the heart of US military command and take it out.

What would motivate China to war with the US so blatently? Her current tactics are much better and do not draw international attention to herself. She is slowing buying up the US debt to control our economy one day which will give her time to catch up and supercede the US while making sure that her fuel oil is provided for by the USA's southern neighbors.

Whose to say she does not build her fleet and amass her troops on the borders of South America as she becomes bedfellows with Chavez?

There are many ways to skin the fat cat.

Answer 5

there are various stuff the USA can do to do advance family with China. a million. Rescind the Taiwan family Act of 1979 2. do no longer impose sanctions on Iran (which sells oil to China) 3. Withdraw all revenues of militia technologies from Taiwan, alongside with the Aegis protection missile gadget. 4. help China's suitable to attack Taiwan if needed 5. decrease off all diplomatic family with Taiwan 6. Denounce and withdraw all help for the Dalai Lama 7. Withdraw all human rights courtroom circumstances and abuses

Answer 6

Think of it this way,
50, F-15´s wouldn´t stand a chance against a couple F-22´s. In the Alaska games earlier this year, they scored a 144 to 0 kill ratio.

and that was against, F-15´s, F-16´s and F-18´s.

They may have more numbers, but we´re leaps and bounds ahead of them... you know the B2 is still the stealthiest and leatheist bomber in the world... well, they had those in the mid 80´s, and lied to the US public about if for over 10 years.... finally saying, yeah, we have them.

imagine what we got now that the gov, wont tell us about

Answer 7

I see China and US working together not against each other.

There is much to be said for quality over quantity.

But why bit the hand that feeds it unless the feeder is no longer needed except for a tasty dinner?

What would be the dinner upon which China would feast?

Why would China, simply because of its numbers, forget about Japan's mistake in "waking the sleeping giant" ?

Answer 8

Taiwan belongs rightly to China - the Chinese People's Liberation Army will take it whenever they feel like it. Sit back and enjoy the fireworks.

Answer 9

Whenever any country spends more than it can afford on military (like China and North Korea), infrastructure goes neglected and economic potential is inhibited. The economy is the powerhouse for sustained advancements in technology and military advancements, and China's economy is relatively weak at present (though people have speculated for years about her "potential"). The truth is that maintaining a large army is MUCH less costly than actually engaging them in actual operations. Sustained, intense chinese military operations would likely quickly collapse their economy, being already stressed greatly by their widespread poverty and their large military program.

In terms of technology, China must make serious advances in anti-missile and anti-sub technology, to name just a few. Two carrier battle groups positioned between China and Taiwan with Aegis technology allow for engaging a large number of targets simultaneously with missiles and kinetic energy projectiles in a coordinated manner from the entire battle group. Additionally, the entire coast of China can be easily blockaded (there goes their economy) and submarines (the underwater snipers) ensure that no boat is safe.

So long as my attack range is bigger than my target's attack range and I can down them before they enter their attack range, numbers is no issue; I think that they will run out of planes before we run out of missiles.

China's communism and military focus both deny them the economic power for technology advancement and sustained military operations. There is no Chinese threat (present or future), so long as she maintains her current policies.

Answer 10

At this point, the only method of victory is the use of nuclear weapons. Given this, we must continue to evolve our delivery systems to ensure we can stop this threat. Realistically, the Chinese will overrun us economically. Presently, the Chinese have enough of our currency to bring down our economy if they wished.