Let me introduce you to something called purchase power parity. When you actually consider what things cost in each country, the US and China spend comparable amounts on their military budget right now. The cost for the US to field a single soldier is around $250k/year. And more if they’re deployed somewhere hostile. Similar, the salary of an ICE agent is but a fraction of employing an ICE agent.
That works for some things but not others. Less so for durable goods and chinas ppp advantage is steadily shrinking. And while they are trying to increase their high end goods the fact that their current military has never fought a war is a big anchor on them.
Let me introduce you to something called purchase power parity. When you actually consider what things cost in each country, the US and China spend comparable amounts on their military budget right now. The cost for the US to field a single soldier is around $250k/year. And more if they’re deployed somewhere hostile. Similar, the salary of an ICE agent is but a fraction of employing an ICE agent.
That works for some things but not others. Less so for durable goods and chinas ppp advantage is steadily shrinking. And while they are trying to increase their high end goods the fact that their current military has never fought a war is a big anchor on them.