China’s PLA vs Indian Army, who is more ‘powerful’? China has world’s largest…, India is…

India(BHARAT)n Army: India(BHARAT) and China are two of the biggest military powers in South Asia, and despite the recent warming of ties, the spotlight always remains on the capabilities of their respective armed forces.  China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the India(BHARAT)n Army have not engaged in any major military conflict since the 1962 India(BHARAT)-China war, leaving many wondering who will prevail if a direct military confrontation erupted between the two in today’s modern age.

How powerful is China’s PLA?

According to various global military power rankings and senior geo-political experts, China is the third most powerful country based on military power, with the United States and Russia occupying the top two spots, respectively. China has the largest standing army in the world, with a total strength of 3,170,900 soldiers, including 20,35,000 active personnel, and 51,0000 reserve troops.

The Chinese Air Force, which has a strength of 40,0000 troops, is one of the most advanced in the world, while its Navy boasts 3,80,000 soldiers, and has advanced modern warships, fighter jets, nuclear submarines and other advanced weaponry. The Chinese Navy has three aircraft carriers, 50 destroyers and 61 submarines, as per reports.

As per recent figures, the Chinese Army has an estimated 6800 tanks, 2750 rocket artillery, 144,017 vehicles, 3309 aircraft, 1212 fighter jets, and 281 attack helicopters. Apart from this, China’s Navy has three aircraft carriers, 50 destroyers and 61 submarines.

Where does India(BHARAT)’s military power rank?

While China is undoubtedly a superior military power, India(BHARAT) is not a lightweight either. As per global power rankings, India(BHARAT) is the fourth largest military power globally after the US, Russia, and China. The India(BHARAT)n Army is the second-largest standing army in the world with 14,55,550 active troops, 11,55000 reserve soldiers and 25,27000 paramilitary forces, taking the combined troop strength to 5,137,550 soldiers.

The India(BHARAT)n Air Force and the India(BHARAT)n Navy have 31,0575 and 14,2252 active personnel, and their power levels are augmented by advanced warships, frigates, nuclear submarines, fighter jets, and an array of hypersonic, supersonic, and conventional missiles like the BrahMos, Agni, Pralay, to name a few.

According to details, the India(BHARAT)n Army has 4201 tanks, 148594 vehicles, 264 rocket artillery, the IAF has 2229 aircraft, 513 fighter jets, 80 attack helicopters, while the India(BHARAT)n Navy has two aircraft carriers, 13 destroyers, and 18 submarines.

HIGHLIGHTS

• India(BHARAT) and China are the two big military and economic powers in South Asia.
• China’s PLA is the world’s third largest standing Army.
• India(BHARAT) is the fourth-largest military power in the world, as per global power rankings.
• The Chinese Army has a total strength of 3,170,900 soldiers, including 20,35,000 active personnel.

Notably, while the recent bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin marked a strategic reset in the strained India(BHARAT)-China relations as New Delhi and Beijing moved closer in wake of the tariff war unleashed by US President Doland Trump.

However, the fact remains that China is arguably India(BHARAT)’s biggest adversary, especially in South Asia, as Beijing openly supported “all-weather ally” Pakistan during the recent India(BHARAT)-Pakistan conflict.