Will the US go to war with China?

Answer 1

China has been modernizing it's army and airforce rapidly, I am almost 100% sure no one has ever accomplished as much modernizing as China has in the past 30 years. Give it another 15 years and China will oficially be the "Superpower" of the world when the "Sleeping Giant" has awaken in the year 2020

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The original question is too vague. It depends heavily on the circumstances, the most important two are: (1) where is the war fought and (2) what are the chances that either side will be able to gain allies?

Assuming that (2) is ignored, the current most likely places that a war would be fought are (a) the Taiwan Strait, (b) the Yellow Sea, (c) the Indian/Chinese/Pakistan border area, or (d) a central-Asian former Soviet country (e.g. Kazakhstan).

Considerations in this sort of question go to what are the strengths and weakness of each side.

China (People's Republic of China, i.e. mainland China)

Strengths

1. Very large army, with the potential to draft enormous numbers quickly. Doubling the size of the People's Army from 1 million to 2 million is easily possible in a short period of time, so losses can be easily replaced.
2. New diesel-electric submarines (though in very small numbers), which are extremely hard to detect.
3. Very large numbers of ground-based Surface-to-Surface missiles of reasonably good technology.
4. Very large air force
5. Generally very good morale, and a government which is very skilled in manipulating public opinion to maintain such morale over a long fight.
6. Very good Intelligence gathering capability, especially espionage within the USA.

Weaknesses

1. Only a small portion of their military has current-generation weapons. Most are equipped with 1970s-era weaponry (e.g. MiG-21 and T-72 clones). Even after the current upgrade programs are completed, less than 20% of the total military strength will have modern weapon systems.
2. Military is almost completely conscripts, which are generally of much lower quality than professional soldiers.
3. No "blue-water" naval capabilities at all. Only capable of naval action near Chinese coast, where land-based support is possible.
4. Very questionable quality of military leadership. The Chinese military has not fought any significant war of any kind for several decades, and thus has virtually no combat experience. Likewise, it is unlikely that the military has been able to produces a system to encourage highly-flexible tactical thinking amongst its officers, which leads to predictable behavior (a huge tactical disadvantage).
5. No strategic (or even tactical) airlift capability to speak of, so even modest-scale paratroop or airmobile (helicopter) attacks are impossible.

United States

Strengths

1. Top grade technology. Best technology in the world, by a considerable margin. Able to afford to purchase top-shelf equipment in large numbers.
2. Very high level of professional training of both officer and enlisted personnel. All personnel are volunteers. Consequently, a very high level of competency throughout the military.
3. Military culture systemically promotes flexible thinking (for the most part).
4. Top-grade tactical Intelligence gathering, with best-of-breed reconnaissance satellites and local Electronic Warfare equipment.
5. Biggest and best naval force, with significant power-projection capabilities.
6. Very capable amphibious, airdrop, and airmobile assault capability

Weaknesses

1. Very limited-duration public support for most fighting. Often unable to maintain public support for difficult or mid-length wars.
2. Extremely expensive equipment. Lost equipment not replaceable very quickly at all. Very little usable reserve equipment.
3. Frequent conflict between military and civilian commands, especially if war drags on.
4. Much poorer human espionage capability (over-reliance on technical means).
5. Military vulnerable to asymetric attack strategies, and only moderately skilled in countering such attacks.
6. High sensitivity to own-force casualty costs - even modest casualties cause disproportionate political problems.

Taking these factors into account, consider how each is relevant in the specific place that combat might occur, and think about how such a war might turn out.

Answer 2

not likely. the US is in deep debt to China at this time and I don't think China wants to lose their funds within the US