I am sorry when you have an active standing army amounting to 2.3 million, not counting the reserves, China is definitely a major player, especially within marching reach of it's army. And again, was the issue invasion of the US, not a chance, may be. As far as making a grab for Siberia and it's natural resources, were china to shift from the 1996-97 non-aggression pact with Russia, I doubt anything short of nukes could stop them. And before you say russian winter; all I have to say is November-December 1950, frozen Chosin. Sheer numbers are enough to overwhelm, not to mention that in the general geographical area U.S. would not enjoy such a large air superiority both quality and certainly not quantity wise.

I agree with your facts regarding the quantity of their forces. HOWEVER, not even China can match the political/strategical strength of the U.S. military. They couldn't afford to go to war with Denmark.

Woah there, Rubicon, listen to too much propaganda? First of all, Russia has over 1,520,000 Army personnel. Second of all, though now deterioting, the Russian Army is far more technologically advanced then the Chinese Army, though outnumbered. Third of all, China would never attack Russia because they are Allies (though there has been a decline since the Great Cultural Massacre). If China ever invaded, you're an idiot if you think that a few nukes can't stop hq. They won't be able to operate without a leader. You also make the mistake of saying that the Russian winter can't stop them, and we're talking about FREAKIN' SIBERIA. FINALLY if China does make the stupid mistake of invading Siberia, there will be a GLOBAL (I mean large scale world war III) RETALIATION. Don't think the US won't think twice about crushing it's opposition, especially if it makes war upon a useful ally. Or maybe UK will intervene. Or France. Or Turkey. Or NATO. Or the UN. Or just about half the entire globe. Just because you have the largest population, it doesn't give you an excuse to be arrogant. You ignorant dolt.

Correction. >>anything short of nukes could stop them<< noted. But still, fighting an offensive war with just the odds of 2:1? The Russians are better trained, and have better weapons. Forget the Chinese reserves, they're needed at home. Don't forget the legendary Spetnaz, they're still around and just as powerful a force to be reckoned with. And an offensive war in Siberia? VERY stupid. I won't go into how many malfunctions the Chinese will have. The quantity over quality argument was also bad idea. Chinese are poorly overtrained, and the UN, NATO, or what have you will totally dominate the air. Don't forget, it's not just Russia vs. China. Even if it was, the Russians could drag out the war if the Chinese actually become good overnight (or over the course of 50 years, both highly unlikely) and destroy the Russian Army. No way China could pull this off unless they justify the war to the UN and the US somehow.

China has never been a major military force outside her borders in the history and will not intend to be. But, whoever is waging nukes to Chinese or talking invasion of China is either an egghead or an idiot. Sometimes you read this kind of bullsh't full of racist languages on this board. China's enemy is within her own borders: the remaining political system, human rights violations and corruption of communists in economic development.

wait wait brings up a good point. Invading Russia during the winter is perhaps the stupidest move someone could make, save perhaps try and nuke the US(or Russia). And invading Siberia is like invading Russia during the winter, all the time. Except the winter, when its even worse. Just a plain bad idea in general. However, China does have some advantages. Its airforce is considerable larger, and while its military equipment is inferior(mostly) than Russia, it has much more, and much more of it works. Russia's military has fallen apart during the last ten years due to a lack of spare parts. Overall, I think that China would likely win if Russia doesn't get outside support, but it would cost a lot, almost certainly more than any initial benefits. And if the US supports Russia, than I think China is not going to succeed.

Russia has drastically cut it's military budget since the collapse of the Soviet Union but it's weapons are not falling apart (at least not yet) and funding has increased so it seems that the worst times of the Russian Armed forces are now in the past. But anyway, if there is a war, it would be pointless because both countries would be decimated.

The Russians are used to decimating themselves in order to survive. Also watch how fast the Russians become mobilized and motivated once the evil horde is on their mother soil. I'd imagine the Russians would even use tactical nukes on their own soil to soften the Chinese up, then flank them on both sides from behind, leaving the survivors to freeze to death in Siberia. Or at least that's what I would do.

Well done, my friend.

I agree with Nan, Russia would likely go nuclear, they would have too. But China wouldn't have an easy time of it, no matter what. The terrain and weather are terrible in the part of the world they would try and conquer, and the reaction of other nations would hurt China greatly. I think its a moot point. But to get back to the original question, I think its Russia that is breeding itself out of a super-power position. The Russian population continues to fall, and if it isn't checked then things are going to look mighty grim in the next couple of decades for Russia.