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Military power of China & Japan

China vs Japan

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China Japan

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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Japan is a country located in Eastern Asia with an area of 377,944 km² (land boundries: 0 km and costline 29,751 km). The capital of Japan is Tokyo. The number of inhabitants is 125,360,000.

The current Self Defense Force was founded in 1954. Japan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the USA. Approximately 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, were stationed in Japan and had exclusive use of more than 80 bases and facilities. In exchange for their use, the US guarantees Japan’s security. The JSDF is equipped with a mix of imported and domestically-produced equipment. The majority of its weapons imports are from the US and some domestically-produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license.

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

Military expenditures

Military budget

408 billion $

51 billion $

Percent of GDP

1.7 %

1.2 %

Manpower

Active personnel

2,035,000

247,150

Reserve personnel

2,000,000

56,100

Available for military

385,821,101

27,301,443

Land Forces

Tanks

6,100

1,004

Armoured fighting vehicles

15,880

3,072

Total artillery

6,890

623

Self-propelled artillery

3,390

214

Rocket artillery

3,000

99

Air Forces

Total aircraft

5,225

1,444

Fighter

837

155

Multirole

1,498

79

Attack

254

0

Helicopters

1,223

698

UCAV (combat drone)

160

0

Navy

Total naval

762

140

Aircraft carriers

6

4

Destroyers

50

36

Frigates

47

2

Corvettes

72

6

Submarines

72

22

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.

Japan

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.

Japan

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; mandatory retirement at age 53 for senior enlisted personnel and at 62 years for senior service officers.