Key Takeaways
- Regional powers are catching up to US military capacity in the Indo-Pacific, eroding its former unrivaled position.
- Washington lags behind China on economic relationships and diplomatic influence.
The most recent military rankings for Asia released by the Lowy Institute note a significant rise in China’s position, narrowing the gap with the United States, and reflecting the shifting geopolitics of the region. The boost is largely down to China’s expanding economic and diplomatic ties in Asia, as well as the modernization and growth of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Russia, while maintaining its second-place ranking, has seen a sharp decline in military power amid the ongoing Ukraine war, which has drained Moscow’s resources and weakened its presence in Asia. India has also climbed the ranks, surpassing Japan as the fourth most powerful nation globally, and third in Asia. However, India’s ability to project power far from its shores remains limited. While China has greater reach than India, Beijing still lacks a network of overseas military bases, and the PLA Navy is not yet a blue-water force capable of projecting power far from home. On the other hand, the most likely flashpoint for a US-China conflict is Taiwan, a theater where China’s military capabilities are at their strongest.
Breaking down the rankings
The Lowy Institute Asia Power Index ranks the relative strength of 27 countries and territories across the region, from Pakistan to Russia, and as far into the Pacific as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. In doing so it focuses on 131 indicators across eight key areas: military capability, defense networks, economic capability, economic relationships, diplomatic influence, cultural influence, resilience, and future resources.
