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Military power of China & Australia

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China vs Australia

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China Australia

China is a country located in Eastern Asia with an area of 9,596,961 km2 (land boundries: 22,457 km and costline 14,500 km). The capital of China is Beijing. The number of inhabitants is 1,444,390,177.

The People's Liberation Army is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission. The PLA is outfitted primarily with a wide mix of older and modern domestically-produced systems heavily influenced by technology derived from other countries. Russia is the main supplier military equipment outside the domestic industry.

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Australia is a country located in Oceania with an area of 7,692,024 km2 (land boundries: 0 km and costline 25,760 km). The capital of Australia is Canberra. The number of inhabitants is 25,807,800.

Australia has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty. In 2021, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” which would build on existing bilateral ties. The Australian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems. USA is the largest supplier of arms. The Australian defense industry produces a variety of land and sea weapons platforms.

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If you want to check the comparison in terms of economic ratios check out China - Australia

Military expenditures

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Military budget: 408 billion $ 34.4 billion $
Percent of GDP: 1.7% 2%

Military budget

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Highest value in the world: 916 billion $ (USA)
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Manpower

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Active personnel: 2,035,000 60,330
Reserve personnel: 2,000,000 29,740
Available for military: 385,821,101 5,316,464

Active

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Highest value in the world: 2,035,000 (China)
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Land Forces

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Tanks: 5,750 59
Armoured fighting vehicles: 14,130 1,796
Total artillery: 7,094 235
Self-propelled artillery: 2,720 0
Rocket artillery: 3,140 0

Tanks

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Highest value in the world: 12,267 (Russia)
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Air Forces

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Total aircraft: 4,630 433
Fighter aircraft: 1,049 0
Multirole aircraft: 1,130 133
Attack aircraft: 120 0
Helicopters: 1,355 130
UCAV (combat drone): 151 0

Total aircraft

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Highest value in the world: 13,175 (USA)
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Navy

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Total naval: 742 45
Aircraftcarriers: 4 2
Destroyers: 38 3
Frigates: 54 8
Corvettes: 73 0
Submarines: 74 6

Total naval

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Highest value in the world: 967 (North Korea)
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Nuclear weapons

China

The last of five nuclear-weapon states under the NPT, which at this moment possesses approximately 280 nuclear warheads in total. Nevertheless, the number of deployed bombs is unknown. The first test that occurred to be successful occurred in 1964. The main goal of Chinese was to build a deterrent against two major nuclear powers, namely The United States as well as The Soviet Union. The nation decided to choose dried lake for the nuclear site, Lop Nur. Although China developed and tested its first atomic device only in 1964, they managed to test their first hydrogen bomb only 32 months later. As a result, they can boast with the shortest period between developing fission and fusion technology.

China managed to conduct 45 tests of nuclear weapons. Still, the data regarding the stockpile of accumulated warheads is uncertain. The same thing concerns the number of deployed warheads. It is all due to the limited information that the country provides. We should also bear in mind that they are the only country out of five nuclear-weapon states under the NPT that does not give a positive security assurance.

Australia

Does not have nuclear weapons.

Military service

China

18-24 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with a 2-year service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs; a recent military decision allows women in combat roles.

Australia

17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces.