Which South-East Asian country has the most powerful military?

Answer 1

Answer

Update: Vietnam is now the most powerful military in Southeast Asia region due its recent update in Navy and Air Force.

- 6 kilo class Submarines. (there currently no country in ASEAN has achieved this modern Subs.)

- 2 Gepard (Cheetah) class frigates from Russia, delivered by 2010. This kind of modern frigates were only equipped in Russian Navy and Vietnamese Navy

- Total order is around 30 to 45 Su30 MK2 fighting planes.

- other modern fighting guns and upgraded parts.

Indonesia: past and present.

It has been a tradition of military excellence and glory since the era of Sailendra, Majapahit, and Independence Against Colonialism. Even today, the Indonesian Armed Forces have successfully controlled insurgencies in sprawling geographical areas under limited technical and financial supports.

Vietnam: current and future

It has been involved in the 2 major wars against the 2 biggest major powers, defeated US, and a short later defeated China's invasion under a Chinese's fake reason of Kmer-China relation. More than 400 tanks of China force were destroyed and (around 250,000 both Chinese and Vietnamese troops dead) in that 1 month war. Chinese casualty claim: 6,900 killed, 15,000 wounded.[3] Western source: 26,000 killed, 37,000 wounded and 420 tanks destroyed (from Wikipedia)

Vietnamese casualty

Western source: 20,000 killed, 32,000 wounded and 185 tanks destroyed[4]

Vietnam claims: 10,000 civilians killed, not figures of military (from Wikipedia)

Recently, Vietnam quickly developed its military industry as well as military hardware. Vietnam is currently acheiving the greatest number of manpower reserves, though lacking of hi-tech equipments. (but weak in economy unable to retain its high cost for maintenance)

Updated info:

- Moreover, recently in 2010, Indonesia and Vietnam wanted to get closer to each other and declared to each other as twin bothers.

- In my opinion, Indonesia and Vietnam plus the support of other ASEAN members together would be able to resist and retrain the aggression or invasion of China into the peace of South-East Asia and ASIA.

- Other possible strong military in south east Asia: Singapore

However, Singapore owned no resources and automatic be a dependent country to USA and Europe. It did not even have enough land to built a world standard military industry and has not ship building industry.

Singapore is only an economic power in the region and already developed fully.

Answer 2

The Chinese are believed to have nuclear weapons, which would make them the most powerful military force in Asia. China also possesses the largest nuclear and conventional submarine fleet and the largest army, although most of their soldiers are poorly-educated and simply looking for employment. However the Japanese, S. Korean, and Australian militaries, who train together and with the US Marines, are better-trained and better-equipped.