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There are two overwhelming impressions from the IHS Jane's map of Asian defense spending (see below).
Firstly, you notice China's gargantuan size. According to the World Bank, China is the world's second-largest country in land area. China dwarfs all of the Asian countries combined.
Secondly, China's defense budget is absolutely enormous. IHS Jane's includes China's weapon procurement and R&D budget to correctly reach the total of $182 billion in 2015 Chinese military spending. In sharp contrast, the total for Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia is a puny $25 billion.
Thirdly, the quality of Chinese military weaponry is far superior in technology (e.g. military satellites in space, nuclear submarines, stealth fighters, etc.).
In conclusion, it is an absurd proposition to use Asian countries to counter China. The US Pivot to Asia was bound to fail. No collection of Asian countries (even with US help) can stand against China militarily. Look at the map, geography is destiny.
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http://press.ihs.com/press-release/...ns-around-south-china-sea-drive-defence-spend
Firstly, you notice China's gargantuan size. According to the World Bank, China is the world's second-largest country in land area. China dwarfs all of the Asian countries combined.
Secondly, China's defense budget is absolutely enormous. IHS Jane's includes China's weapon procurement and R&D budget to correctly reach the total of $182 billion in 2015 Chinese military spending. In sharp contrast, the total for Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia is a puny $25 billion.
Thirdly, the quality of Chinese military weaponry is far superior in technology (e.g. military satellites in space, nuclear submarines, stealth fighters, etc.).
In conclusion, it is an absurd proposition to use Asian countries to counter China. The US Pivot to Asia was bound to fail. No collection of Asian countries (even with US help) can stand against China militarily. Look at the map, geography is destiny.
----------
http://press.ihs.com/press-release/...ns-around-south-china-sea-drive-defence-spend