The United States is one of the largest military forces in the world. There are around 750 military bases spread across 80 nations, with Japan having the highest number of US bases, followed by Germany with 119 and South Korea with 73. Other countries include Canada, UK, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Cuba, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Peru. (As illustrated in the graph below)
Compared to the U.S., China has only one active military base in Djibouti, Africa but has gained leverage by loaning money for infrastructure projects in several countries through the BRI initiative where it might want to establish its forces.
Recently multiple developments have taken place which reinforces the US military’s hyperfocus on China (CNN report):
– The US is beefing up its presence in the Pacific with a new military base, its first in 70 years on the island of Guam, a US territory.
– There is a new agreement between the US and Japan that will redesignate US Marines stationed in Japan, allowing them to fire anti-ship missiles.
– Also, the US military will gain expanded access to bases in the Philippines, which is just south of Taiwan. The Japanese island of Okinawa, where Marines are stationed, is to the north.
However, China’s military is emerging as a true competitor to the U.S., under Xi Jinping. The People’s Liberation Army now has hypersonic missiles that evade most defenses, a technology that the US is still developing. Its attack drones can swarm to paralyze communications networks.
China has more naval ships than America does, and last year it debuted its third aircraft carrier—the first to be planned and constructed in the country. Its defense budget is second only to the U.S.’s. Around 2 million serving personnel make up China’s military, versus little under 1.4 million in the U.S. (Wall Street Journal Report, 2022).
