China’s military capabilities significantly exceed Taiwan’s in virtually all key metrics. The PRC’s annual defense spending is estimated at $329 billion, while the Republic of China, better known as Taiwan, allocates approximately $17.3 billion to defense. This was reported by Dengi.ua, citing an infographic by Slovo i Dilo.
The difference in the number of military personnel is even more striking. More than 2.5 million people serve in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and other paramilitary units in China - making it the largest armed force in the world. By comparison, the Taiwanese military has a personnel strength of about 180,800.
Beijing also maintains a significant advantage in terms of military equipment. China has approximately 4,700 tanks and 8,210 infantry fighting vehicles, while Taiwan has 750 tanks and 305 infantry fighting vehicles. The gap in aviation also remains significant: the PRC has 328 attack helicopters compared to Taiwan’s 90, and the number of fighter jets and attack aircraft stands at 1,529 versus 269, respectively.
The capabilities of the naval forces also differ significantly. The Chinese navy comprises 102 major warships, while Taiwan has 26. In addition, the PRC Navy includes 53 submarines, whereas Taiwan maintains a limited submarine fleet. The Republic of China also does not possess nuclear weapons. Taiwan’s own nuclear program was actively developed in the 1970s and 1980s but was subsequently shut down under pressure from the United States.
However, China’s numerical superiority does not in itself mean that Beijing will be able to deploy its entire military potential simultaneously. Geography remains the key factor: Taiwan is separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait, which ranges in width from 130 to 280 kilometers.
This is precisely why a potential naval blockade of the island or a large-scale amphibious operation would entail serious risks. Even the Chinese armed forces, which vastly outnumber Taiwan’s, would face the challenge of transporting large numbers of troops and equipment across the strait, which would significantly complicate any potential military operation.