"China now has the world’s largest fleet, alarming its" Topic

…Pacific rival

"sleek grey trimaran that cuts through the water at 27 knots, the Sea Hunter is capable of sailing from San Diego to Tokyo, and back again, on a single tank of diesel—all by itself. The ship is an "autonomous unmanned surface vehicle"—a fancy name for a sailing drone—operated by America's navy. The air conditioning on board is for the benefit of computers, rather than humans. The design pays little heed to human comfort. "I'm on a ship that looks like a Klingon bird of prey," remarked an official when visiting the ship in 2016. Earlier this month the Sea Hunter spent time with the uss Russell, a more traditional destroyer, practising "manned-unmanned teaming". The idea is that such double acts are the future of naval warfare.

In a report published this month, the Pentagon acknowledged a grim milestone: China's navy, having churned out warships like sausages, has become the world's largest. America had held that crown since the second world war. Though America's warships tend to be heftier than their Chinese counterparts, the total tonnage of warships launched by the pla navy between 2015 and 2019 exceeded that of America over the same period by almost half, estimates Thomas Shugart, a former submarine officer (see chart). Mr Shugart notes that the last such dramatic and rapid naval build-up was Ronald Reagan's drive for a 600-ship navy in the 1980s…"
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Amicalement
Armand

They may have the biggest Navy. But do they know how to effectively use them in a fight ? A weapon system is only as good as it's crew, etc. Along with capable leadership …

But of course never under estimate your adversary(s) …

To be honest I wonder if US and western allies can use it's fleets effectively in a fight either.

No one has seen serious actual peer level combat for a long time. COIN and pounding third worlders doesn't really count.

I don't think anyone truly understands what the next war will be like, much like no one really knew how WWI would be fought.

Something not often mentioned is how the 1 child policy has hamstrung the Chinese military. Every dead soldier, airman, sailor wipes out 4 families.

China may have a big sabre to rattle – but it can't sustain even a short shooting war without massive internal problems.

It's already struggling to keep its population happy. The bubble is about to burst and COVID will only accelerate this decline.

We need a coherent, long term strategy to deal with this and the US needs to play the major role. Why? Because it must be done and the US is the only country that can do it.

Skarper as I said before I've been reading about China being close to collapse for 20 years.

Wishful thinking and all that jazz.

As for demographics, they are a problem in the whole western world as well as east Asia. Dead young men in USA or Australia or especially Japan and South Korea also have a massive account on breeding potential.

Indeed Taiwan a few years ago started cutting its military back to cope with demographic changes that reduced ability to recruit sufficient troop numbers.

Japan is already experiencing terminal population collapse – population has been in decline for several years and by 2050 will lose 30 million people (127 million people in 2014, 97 million expected by 2050). By 2100 there will be only around 60 million Japanese based on current population decline. South Korea is similar – 51 million down to 28 million by 2100.

And note there is 1.2 billion Chinese. That is more than the west combined and they are nominally slightly younger than the average westerner.

In fact dead Chinese male soldiers helps balance China's gender ratios (the most adverse impact of one child policy in a misogynistic society where murdering girl children until you get a boy was common practice)!

US needs to play the major role. Why? Because it must be done and the US is the only country that can do it.

Sorry no can do. Too busy being 25 on the Democracy Index, supporting dictatorships, and stopping anything else that makes the world a better place ! 😲😁😄😆😂🤣😎

young men in USA

I tried my best in my youth !
😁

South Korea still has a long way to go and remains a flawed democracy [no. 23 on the Democracy Index link , only slightly better than the USA [No. 25].

China's gender ratios (the most adverse impact of one child policy in a misogynistic society where murdering girl children

So where does China fall on the Democracy Index and who makes that determination ? 🤔🤩

arealdeadone + 1

Amicalement
Armand