战略与国际研究中心-The-Asian-Conventional-Military-Balance-in-2002_-Total-and-Sub

The Asian Conventional Military Balance in 2002

Core Content Overview

This document provides a detailed analysis of the conventional military balance in Asia, focusing on East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. It includes data on military expenditures, arms imports, military forces, and manpower for key countries in these regions, as well as information on U.S. military presence in the Pacific. The data spans from 1987 to 2002, highlighting trends in military spending and capabilities.

Key Regions and Their Military Balances

East Asia

• Military Expenditures (1987–1997): Increased steadily from $121 billion in 1987 to $174 billion in 1997.
• Arms Imports (1987–1997): Ranged from $9.9 billion to $16.5 billion.
• Military Forces (2001–2002):
  • Manpower: China had the largest active force (2,310,000), followed by South Korea (683,000), Japan (239,800), and Taiwan (370,000).
  • Main Battle Tanks (MBT): China had the most with 8,000, followed by North Korea (3,500), South Korea (2,330), and Vietnam (1,315).
  • Artillery: China had the highest number of towed artillery (13,000), followed by North Korea (3,500), South Korea (3,500), and Vietnam (2,300).
  • Combat Aircraft: China had the most with 2,900, followed by South Korea (555), Japan (304), and Taiwan (482).
  • Naval Combat Ships:
    • Frigates: China had 41, South Korea 4, Japan 9.
    • Destroyers: China had 4, South Korea 21, Japan 12.
    • Corvettes: South Korea had 24, Indonesia 16.
    • Patrol Craft: China had 93, South Korea 6, Japan 3.
    • Submarines: China had 61, South Korea 16, Japan 2.
    • Amphibious Ships: China had 56, Japan 8, South Korea 14.
    • Landing Craft: China had 285, Japan 13, South Korea 36.

Southeast Asia

• Military Expenditures (1987–1997): Generally lower than East Asia, with South Korea and Japan as the main contributors.
• Military Forces (2001–2002):
  • Manpower: South Korea (683,000), Japan (239,800), Taiwan (370,000), and others.
  • Main Battle Tanks (MBT): South Korea had 2,330, followed by Japan (840) and Vietnam (1,315).
  • Artillery: South Korea had 3,500, Japan 480, Vietnam 2,300.
  • Combat Aircraft: South Korea had 555, Japan 304, and others.
  • Naval Combat Ships:
    • Frigates: South Korea had 4, Japan 9, and others.
    • Destroyers: South Korea had 21, Japan 12.
    • Corvettes: South Korea had 24, Indonesia 16.
    • Patrol Craft: South Korea had 6, Japan 3.
    • Submarines: South Korea had 16, Japan 2.
    • Amphibious Ships: South Korea had 14, Japan 8.
    • Landing Craft: South Korea had 36, Japan 13.

South Asia

• Military Expenditures (1987–1997): Ranged from $11.8 billion to $16.3 billion.
• Arms Imports (1987–1997): Fluctuated from $6.3 billion to $12.7 billion.
• Military Forces (2001–2002):
  • Manpower: India had the largest with 1,263,000, followed by Pakistan (535,000), and others.
  • Main Battle Tanks (MBT): India had 3,414, Pakistan 1,440, and others.
  • Artillery: India had 4,175, Pakistan 3,500, and others.
  • Combat Aircraft: India had 1,560, Pakistan 26, and others.
  • Naval Combat Ships:
    • Frigates: India had 4, Pakistan 4, and others.
    • Destroyers: India had 2, Pakistan 1.
    • Corvettes: India had 1, Pakistan 2.
    • Patrol Craft: India had 4, Pakistan 1.
    • Submarines: India had 16, Pakistan 1.
    • Amphibious Ships: India had 6, Pakistan 2.
    • Landing Craft: India had 12, Pakistan 2.

U.S. Military Presence in the Pacific (2001–2002)

• Pacific Command (PACOM) is headquartered in Hawaii and includes forces from the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• U.S. Forces in Hawaii:
  • Army: 15,000 personnel.
  • Navy: 7,500 personnel.
  • Air Force: 4,580 personnel.
  • Marine Corps: 5,680 personnel.
• U.S. Forces in Japan:
  • Army: 1,600 personnel.
  • Navy: 5,200 personnel.
  • Air Force: 13,480 personnel.
  • Marine Corps: 18,050 personnel.
• U.S. Forces in South Korea:
  • Army: 27,200 personnel.
  • Navy: 300 personnel.
  • Air Force: 8,920 personnel.
  • Marine Corps: 100 personnel.
• U.S. Forces in Guam and Diego Garcia:
  • Guam: Army 40, Navy 1,850, Air Force 1,600.
  • Diego Garcia: Navy 650, Air Force 20.
• U.S. Forces in the Pacific Fleet:
  • Includes the 3rd Fleet (HQ: San Diego), covering the Eastern and Central Pacific.
  • Includes the 7th Fleet (HQ: Yokosuka), covering the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
  • Typically includes 3 CVBG (Carrier Battle Groups), 4 URG (Underwater Reconnaissance Groups), and amphibious groups.
  • Aircraft: 363 tactical, 203 helicopters, 77 P-3, and 162 other types.

Military Expenditures and Arms Imports in Asia

• Total Asian Expenditures (1987–1997):
  • East Asia: $121–$174 billion.
  • South Asia: $11.8–$16.3 billion.
  • Developing World: $234–$232 billion.
• World Total Expenditures (1987–1997): $1,360–$842 billion.
• Asian Arms Imports (1987–1997):
  • East Asia: $9.9–$16.5 billion.
  • South Asia: $6.3–$12.7 billion.
  • Developing World: $57.3–$28.3 billion.
• Asian Arms Imports as a Fraction of World Total: Less than 10%, indicating a relatively small share of global arms trade.

Summary of Key Points

• Military Expenditures: East Asia had the highest military spending, followed by South Asia and the Developing World.
• Arms Imports: East Asia and South Asia accounted for a significant portion of Asia's arms imports, though overall they were a small fraction of the global arms trade.
• Military Forces: China, India, and South Korea were the dominant military powers in the region.
• U.S. Military Presence: The U.S. had a substantial military footprint in the Pacific, with bases in Hawaii, Japan, South Korea, Guam, and Diego Garcia.
• Regional Trends: Military spending and capabilities varied significantly across regions, with East Asia showing the most growth and development in military assets.

Data Sources

• Primary Source: IISS Military Balance, 2001–2002.
• Additional Sources: USPACOM data and U.S. experts.
• Notes: Some data was estimated or corrected by the author.

Conclusion

The document offers a comprehensive overview of the military balance in Asia during the early 2000s, emphasizing the growing military capabilities of East Asian countries, particularly China, and the continued U.S. military presence in the region. It highlights the relative scale of military expenditures and arms imports, underscoring the importance of regional security dynamics and the role of international arms transfers.