China, the US, and Russia are the world's most powerful military nations, each possessing unique advantages that give them confidence on the international stage.
**The Advantages of the United States**
The United States is currently the world's most powerful maritime nation, boasting a massive navy fleet with a total tonnage of about 3.5 million tons.
In comparison, China's navy has a total tonnage of less than 2.5 million tons, only about two-thirds of that of the United States.
The US Navy not only has a large tonnage but also a high number of main warships.
The United States has 11 active aircraft carriers and about 70 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, while China has 3 aircraft carriers, 8 Type 055 destroyers, and 25 Type 052D destroyers in service.
Other nations have fewer assets; for instance, the UK has 2 aircraft carriers but only 6 destroyers.
Russia has a few cruisers, but most are old Soviet-era ships not suited for modern naval warfare.
The strength of the US Navy is not just in its ships but also in its approximately 300 overseas military bases.
These bases form a strategic line from the Atlantic to the Western Pacific, providing platforms to extend the US military's strike range.
For example, bases in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Singapore can quickly form powerful carrier strike groups.
These bases not only expand the operational space of the US Navy but also provide essential logistical support.
Even though nuclear-powered aircraft carriers theoretically have unlimited range, their parts need maintenance and the crew requires supplies, making these overseas bases crucial.
**The Advantages of Russia**
Russia's strongest trump card is its nuclear submarines.
The technological accumulation from the Soviet era during the Cold War allows Russia to maintain an advantage in this area.
Additionally, nuclear submarines are cost-effective and align with Russia's current complex defense situation.
Despite being considered one of the top three military powers globally, Russia's defense budget is relatively low, around $60 billion annually.
In contrast, the defense budgets of the United States and China are about $800 billion and $200 billion, respectively.
To maintain its defense capabilities with limited funds, Russia has reduced its investment in conventional military forces and increased its investment in nuclear forces, relying on nuclear submarines and its nuclear arsenal to bolster its military strength.
**The Advantages of China**
China's trump card is its Rocket Force.
Since the end of the Cold War, China has faced the greatest external pressure from the United States.
The US advantage lies in its navy and its dense military deployments along the first and second island chains.
To counter the US, China has significantly developed its Rocket Force, equipping it with DF-21D and DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles, both with ranges exceeding 3,000 kilometers, capable of keeping the US Navy at bay beyond the second island chain.
Moreover, China has developed various missiles, from the DF-15 to the hypersonic DF-17, as well as the CJ-10 and CJ-100 long-range cruise missiles, enhancing its precision strike capabilities.
Centered on mainland China, the Rocket Force can cover the US Navy base in Guam and might eventually have the capability to strike the Hawaiian Islands.
In summary, the United States, Russia, and China each have significant advantages in the realms of the navy, nuclear submarines, and rocket forces, respectively, which place them in prominent positions within the global military landscape.
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