INDvsCN: The comparison of strength of India and China’s defence forces

Team Udayavani, Jun 18, 2020, 5:13 PM IST

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India and China have increased their nuclear arsenal over the last year

Both the countries are considered as the largest superpower of the Asian continent. But, few still believe that India is inferior to China.

However, scholars Frank O’Donnell and Alex Bollfrass in a report for Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs said that if another Sino-Indian conflict erupts, India is much stronger than it appears.

According to Frank O’Donnell and Alex Bollfrass’s study,  China and India have roughly equivalent forces in the border region.

It is said that the Chinese airpower in the region operates from four major airbases, which can be neutralized by Indian bombardment.

Also, the high altitude of Chinese air bases in Tibet and Xinjiang, plus the generally difficult geographic and weather conditions of the region, means that Chinese fighters are limited to carrying around half their design payload and fuel.

However, The Indian Army is armed with the nucleic triad and has, over the years, undergone steady modernization with investments in areas such as futuristic soldier systems and missile defense systems.

In 2014, India was the largest importer of military equipment with Russia, Israel, France, and the United States being the top foreign suppliers.

On the other hand, Chinese military is made up of five different branches, the army, navy, air force, rocket force, and the strategic support force which is in charge of cyberspace and electronic welfare.

China has large troop number and defense budget compared to that of India, but that does not mean that China can  subdue India.

Here is the comparison:

 Defense Budget:

India: US$ 70 billion in Feb. 2020

China:  US$177.61 bln June 2019

Atomic Bombs

India: 120 to 130

China:270 to 300

Attack Helicopter     

India:    19

China:  200

Major Ports/Terminals 

India: 7

China: 15

Towed Artillery   

India: 7414

China: 6246

Destroyer Ships         

India:    10

China:      32

Mine Warfare Craft 

India:  6

China:  4

Patrol Craft 

India:  135

China:138

Frigates     

India:   14

China:  48

China has a nuclear stockpile of 270 warheads and the first nuclear weapon test was conducted in October 1964 and the last one in July 1996. India has a nuclear stockpile of 130 to 140 warheads and the first nuclear test was in 1974.

China’s Military allies are North Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cuba and any other nation whose existence depends on aid from China

India’s Military allies are USA, Australia, Japan may support with technology and maybe financially, South Korea and Israel may also support with technology and intelligence

However, all the above information  suggests that despite China’s military and technology power, Indian military power should not be underestimated.