The PLA must emphasize not just quality but also begin a massive and general expansion drive. For example the standing ratio of 300 5th gen to 1000 of theirs shows a poor level of readiness in China,
While there are 1000+ F-35s made overall - Not all of them are going to the USAF, USN and USMC. There are plenty of orders from at least 17 other countries which the F-35 production must fulfill simultaneously.
And how many of those 1000+ F-35s can be realistically deployed to the IndoPac theater?
On the flipside, ALL of the 300+ J-20s (soon to be joined by J-35/As) are going to the PLAAF (and PLAN) only.
Sooner or later, given that both Chengdu and Shenyang ACs are now in the game, China's annual 5th-gen fighter production rate will at least match that of the F-35 - Where absolute majority of those fighters are only going to China. Meanwhile, Lockheed Nartun has pretty much reached its maximum annual production rate for their F-35s across Texas, Italy and Japan.
"Poor level of readiness" is such an oxymoron quote.
as does the lack of ships for the navy. US has deployed nearly 100 major ships, while China only operates 10 large DDGs and a few dozen of escort DDGs.
Meanwhile, how many of those major USN warships
are available in the IndoPac theater and
are actually ready for deployment against China?
Speaking of "China only operates 10 large DDGs and few dozen escort DDGs" - I just can't describe how wrong you are with that.
Those 052D/DGs aren't escort DDGs - They are
proper general-purpose DDGs that are actual high-seas-combat-capable (HSCC) warships. Even without the 055s, the 052D/DGs are fully capable of holding their own against the Flight 1/2/2A Burkes (which presently consists of the absolute majority of the overall Burke fleet).
And while the 055s are officially classified as
large DDGs by the PLAN, they are viewed by the Pentagon as
CGs, based on the presence of flag facilities onboard.
Moreover, China is fighting right on her own doorsteps, while the US has to bring its forces across pretty much the entire span of the Pacific in order to fight China. One is a homefront war, the other is an expeditionary war. The differences in the magnitude of difficulties and complexities involved for both sides are vast. Did you just decided to throw away the geographical realities of the IndoPac theater?
