The second link is 5 years out of date but should still be somewhat illustrative of the actual composition of each fleet beyond an overall number.
First note the tonnage mismatch overall and then note the aircraft carrier, nuclear submarine, cruiser, and destroyer mismatch. China's total ship edge is in smaller surface vessels for coastal defense not power projection. The two aircraft carriers they do have are a 70's or 80's model purchased from Russia that is clearly inferior to anything the US has (I'm pretty sure it is not nuclear powered and has no catapults which severely limits the size/armaments of the aircraft) and the other is much newer but is at best a proof of concept for both the technology in a Chinese warship and Chinese naval aviation itself.
I'm not saying it is something that can be fully ignored but it isn't like they are a threat to the US mainland any time soon. It mostly complicates defending Taiwan. And while I'd definitely like to defend Taiwan, especially in the near term, I am uncertain of the long term usefulness vs price and even the plausibility of maintaining vast military superiority over what could become a peer economic power in waters very close to their coastal territory.
Same. I mostly remembered seeing that factoid in a Bulwark article yesterday and wanting to comment on it. You provided a place to do so. I appreciate it.
I'm no expert but that 370 vs 300 quote on warships seems extremely misleading.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/who-rules-the-waves-u-s-and-chinese-fleets-by-tonnage/
https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/mpdoq3/just_incase_anyone_wanted_a_comparison_in_naval/
The second link is 5 years out of date but should still be somewhat illustrative of the actual composition of each fleet beyond an overall number.
First note the tonnage mismatch overall and then note the aircraft carrier, nuclear submarine, cruiser, and destroyer mismatch. China's total ship edge is in smaller surface vessels for coastal defense not power projection. The two aircraft carriers they do have are a 70's or 80's model purchased from Russia that is clearly inferior to anything the US has (I'm pretty sure it is not nuclear powered and has no catapults which severely limits the size/armaments of the aircraft) and the other is much newer but is at best a proof of concept for both the technology in a Chinese warship and Chinese naval aviation itself.
I'm not saying it is something that can be fully ignored but it isn't like they are a threat to the US mainland any time soon. It mostly complicates defending Taiwan. And while I'd definitely like to defend Taiwan, especially in the near term, I am uncertain of the long term usefulness vs price and even the plausibility of maintaining vast military superiority over what could become a peer economic power in waters very close to their coastal territory.
I am more fearful of a continued westward march by Putin in the event Trump were to win.
Same. I mostly remembered seeing that factoid in a Bulwark article yesterday and wanting to comment on it. You provided a place to do so. I appreciate it.