| ASEAN | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Combined ATLAS Index | 61.9 | 89.9 |
| Member states | 11 | 1 |
| Active military personnel | 1,893,230 | 2,035,000 |
| – Reserve troops | 6,035,800 | 510,000 |
| Military aircraft | 2,261 | 6,341 |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 498 | 3,222 |
| Military ships | 1,294 | 1,005 |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 1 | 3 |
| – incl. submarines | 18 | 62 |
| Main battle tanks | 3,627 | 6,800 |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | 620 |
| Combined defense budget | $58B | $281B |
Overview
ASEAN groups 11 countries against 1 for China. ASEAN fields 1,893,230 active troops combined vs 2,035,000 for China. China's combined $281B defense budget is 4.8:1 that of ASEAN ($58B).
In the air, ASEAN musters 2,261 military aircraft (498 combat) against 6,341 (3,222 combat) for China. At sea, the fleets total 1,294 ships for ASEAN and 1,005 for China, including 18 and 62 submarines respectively. On the ground, ASEAN deploys 3,627 main battle tanks vs 6,800 for China.
China holds a nuclear arsenal of 620 warheads; ASEAN has none.
Combined ATLAS Index
Country ranking →| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 10% | 100.0 | 5,229,640 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 73.9 | 3,627 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 65.9 | 1,294 ships — the members' SEAS inventory power |
| Air power | 25% | 54.9 | 2,261 aircraft — the members' AIRS inventory power |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared capability |
| Defense budget | 15% | 63.2 | $58B combined, PPP-adjusted |
| Availability | modifier | ground ×1.10 · naval ×1.02 · air ×1.10 | Pooled budget per point of each force |
| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 10% | 100.0 | 2,740,000 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 94.2 | 6,800 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 95.5 | 1,005 ships — the members' SEAS inventory power |
| Air power | 25% | 88.7 | 6,341 aircraft — the members' AIRS inventory power |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 58.2 | 620 warheads |
| Defense budget | 15% | 86.0 | $281B combined, PPP-adjusted |
| Availability | modifier | ground ×1.15 · naval ×0.98 · air ×0.98 | Pooled budget per point of each force |
Combined scores treat each coalition as a single force: raw pillar values (troops, weighted equipment points, warheads, budgets) are summed across members and re-scored on the ATLAS Index scale. Alliance cohesion, geography and logistics are not modeled.
Forces by Domain
Member Forces
| Country | ATLAS | Troops | Aircraft | Ships | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 42.4 | 450,000 | 205 | 112 | 15% |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 40.5 | 404,500 | 483 | 345 | 19% |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 38.2 | 51,000 | 231 | 55 | 28% |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 36.8 | 360,850 | 481 | 307 | 10% |
| 🇲🇲 Myanmar | 35.7 | 201,000 | 338 | 239 | 5% |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 32.1 | 113,000 | 164 | 97 | 7% |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | 31.7 | 150,000 | 276 | 118 | 13% |
| 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 21.9 | 124,300 | 25 | 21 | 1% |
| 🇱🇦 Laos | 14.8 | 29,100 | 32 | — | 0% |
| 🇧🇳 Brunei | 8.1 | 7,200 | 26 | — | 1% |
| 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 2.9 | 2,280 | — | — | 0% |
| Country | ATLAS | Troops | Aircraft | Ships | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China ☢ | 89.9 | 2,035,000 | 6,341 | 1,005 | 100% |
Economy & Geography
| ASEAN | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 695.4 million | 1.4 billion |
| Combined GDP | $4.0 trillion | $18.7 trillion |
| GDP per capita | $5,730 | $13,303 |
| Defense share of GDP | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Land area | 4,342,035 km² | 9,326,410 km² |
| Coastline | 105,776 km | 14,500 km |
| Coalition | Country | Status | Warheads | Deployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 🇨🇳 China | Active | 620 | 34 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is stronger, ASEAN or China?
On the combined ATLAS Index, China scores 89.9 against 61.9 for ASEAN. The score aggregates each bloc's manpower, ground, naval, air, nuclear and budget pillars as if it fought as a single force — it ignores geography, cohesion and logistics, which decide real wars.
How many troops do ASEAN and China have?
ASEAN fields 1,893,230 active military personnel across 11 member states, plus 6,035,800 reserves. China fields 2,035,000 active personnel and 510,000 reserves.
How much do ASEAN and China spend on defense?
Combined defense spending reaches $58B a year for ASEAN and $281B for China, summing each member's latest reported military budget.
Who has more military aircraft, ASEAN or China?
ASEAN operates 2,261 military aircraft (498 combat aircraft), while China operates 6,341 (3,222 combat). Each member is counted at its most recent inventory year in the GlobalMilitary.net database.
Do ASEAN or China have nuclear weapons?
China's members hold 620 nuclear warheads combined; ASEAN has no nuclear weapons of its own.