Debate: Can any country defeat China if they went to war against them?
Side: yes, doable

Here is a report I wrote about this a while ago, it's a little outdated not, the PLA uses the QBZ95 (or whatever it is) now, instead of the M56.The Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the United States Armed Forces are two of the strongest militaries in the world. The US Military has been around since October 13, 1775. It has five branches, with 1.5 million personnel in all, the second largest military in the world. Meanwhile, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has five branches, too, with a total of three million personnel, making it the largest military in the world. The PLA was founded relatively recently, on August 1st, 1927. The US Military Leader is Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, while the Chinese Military Leader is General Liang Guanglie. In general, the US Armed Forces and People’s Liberation Army are very similar. Tanks make up a large part of a war, and good tanks provide the necessary armor and guns needed for attacking enemy bases. The US Armed Forces have 9,000+ tanks, while the Chinese have about 7,000+. The American M1A2 Abrams is a 67.6 ton killing machine. It has a four-man crew, and armor made out of Chobham, RH Armor, and steel encased depleted uranium (1.7 times denser than lead). The Abrams also packs a punch, with a 120mm smoothbore cannon, .50 cal coaxial machine gun, and two M240 (7.62) machine guns. The PLA’s ZTZ99 is another gargantuan of death. Weighing in at 58 tons, with a three-man crew and armor that isn’t even available to the public, the ZTZ packs an even bigger punch than the Abrams, with a 125mm smoothbore cannon, and 7.62 coaxial machine gun, and a T85 Heavy Machine Gun. Despite the bigger punch of the ZTZ 99, I would rather be in an Abrams because the extra machine guns would come in handy against enemy infantry. Without infantry, tanks are good targets, so infantry is important as well. The Americans are armed with the M16 or M4 carbine assault rifle, 5.56, with the powerful M203 grenade launcher. The Chinese assault rifle isn’t as original. It is the Chinese knock off of the Russian Avtomat Kalashkinov 47, or AK47. The Chinese call it the M56, shooting 7.62 rounds. This is a little off topic but the AK47 was actually developed in 1947, and only released in 1949, so I think it should be called the AK49. To join the US Armed Forces, you have to be 18 yrs old or older, and to join the Army you have to be less than 42. To join the Navy, you must be less than 34, to join the Air Force, less than 27, to join the Marines, less than 28, and, to join the Coast Guard, less than 27. For the PLA, you have to be at least 14 to join and become an engineer and/or any other non fighting personnel; however, you have to be at least 18 to fight, and less than age 49. Only men are allowed to fight in the PLA. The PLA has 2.3 million active, and 800,000 people on reserve, while the US has I think that the American infantry is better, even though the Chinese have more men; the Americans have the M203 Grenade Launcher attachment, so they are able to bombard the enemy with explosives. Ever since the dawn of the fighter plane, no war has ever been won without air dominance, not counting guerilla warfare wars. The Chinese best fighter plane is the new fourth generation J10, armed with a 123mm twin barreled cannon, 90mm unguided rockets, PL12 air-to-air missiles, YJ-9K air-to-surface missiles, and LT9 laser guided bombs. In general, the Chinese weapon load out is slightly more basic than the American. China only has about 168-196 of the J10s, with a large amount of Russian MiG29s, too. The J10 costs about $28 million dollars as opposed to the $142.6 million for the American F22. The USAF and Navy use the F15, the F16, the F18, and the world’s only Fifth Generation Fighter, The Stealth Fighter F22 Raptor. The F22 is armed with a 122mm M61A2 vulcan gattling gun. For air-to-air missions, the F22 has 6 AIM -120 AMRAM, and 2 AIM9 Sidewinder missiles. For air-to-ground missions, the F22 has 2 AIM-120 AMRAAM, and 2 AIM9 Sidewinder. Generally, the F22’s load out is a more recent style of fighting. I would compare it to the phalanx vs. legionnaire comparison (ancient styles of warfare). The phalanx was older and could not compete with the new, flexible legions of Rome, something that was proven at the battle of Cynoscephalae, where Rome defeated Philip V of Macedon. In simulation, the F22 took down F16s. China’s J10 was made to compete with the F16 and other fourth generation fighters. However, the J10 is not able to lock onto the F22 or see it on its radar. There is a plan to make 187 F22s, (142 made as of Sept. 2009). The USAF and Navy have 9,200+ (3,700 USN and 5,200 USAF) aircrafts in all, while Chinese aircraft number at 2,000+. Once again, I have to favor the Americans. The new F22 is so cutting edge; the PLA mainly rely on guided missiles, but if they cannot lock on to the F22, then they are sitting ducks. In my opinion, the Navy is the best part about any military, especially if China were to go to war with the US. I know that during WWII, the battle for the Pacific would determine the winner, Japan or America. I think a war between China and the US would be somewhat similar; whoever would have the ocean would have the war, especially because all of China’s major cities are on the coast. To compare, the US Navy has 332,000 personnel; while the PLA has 250,000 navy personnel. The USN has 11 aircraft carriers (largest AC fleet in the world). The USN also has 10 amphibious assault ships, 9 amphibious transport docks, 12 dock landing ships, 22 cruisers, 55 destroyers, 30 frigates, and 71 submarines. By contrast, the PLA has 58 submarines, 77 principal surface combatants, 84 amphibious warfare ships, 387 coastal warfare ships, 370-480 LCPs (Landing Crafts), and 150 auxiliary/support vessels. In general, this means that China has more ships, but they are not as big and powerful as the American ships. The US Navy’s fleet is the largest in the world, and, in tonnage, is as big as the 13 navies behind it, including Russia, China, France and England. I think the sheer weight of the American force makes them better in the seas, too. In conclusion, China’s military is amazingly strong, but America has just been a superpower for so long. I would compare it to the British vs. French Empires. Each was huge, but the British Empire was ever so slightly bigger. I would put the US as Britain in this comparison. Also, think America has the better military. I’m not a professional military tactician, though.