CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 4

SECURITY ISSUES IN EURASIA
ARTSRUN HOVHANNISYAN
ASIA-PACIFIC THEATER IN FOCUS:
COMPARISON OF WEAPONS SYSTEMS OF NEAR-
PEER COMPETITORS, CURRENT ISSUES
Abstract
Comparison of military capabilities and weapons systems that can be brought
to bear in case of regional crisis by near-peer competitors in Asian-Pacifi c,
namely the USA, China, and Russia, is increasingly taking a prominent place
in contemplations of academic community. Add to this equation the capabilities
of such “middle-weight” military powers as the both Koreas, Japan, and other
countries of the South China Sea (SCS), and we have an increasingly contested
and congested region, where the balance of forces is positively worth studying.
To begin with, regardless of numerous incentives for cooperation, fi rst of all
for the sake of trade relations, the United States and China are also indirect-
ly facing off on a number of issues in Western Pacifi c, including on Pyong-
yang’s behavior and China’s assertiveness in SCS, to name but a few. Follow-
ing a fairly tough response of the United States to North Korea, the problem
of balance of forces in Asian-Pacifi c strategic realm, in fact, is becoming
more vital. After the American new administration came to power, there was
a certain tension in the relations with China as it was. One should take into
account that it has been already several years there exist problems in relations
between China and Japan as well in respect of laying claims to certain disput-
ed islands. Rumors are fl ying that China is actively creating artifi cial islands
which can become military strongholds far from its shores at approximately
operational depth. Philippines and Vietnam are seriously concerned in that re-
gard. This tension is already manifested in concrete actions and statements.
Keywords: USA, China, China’s People-Liberation Army (PLA), UAV, fi ghter,
missile, navy, air supremacy.
Introduction
In October 2018, in the South China Sea, the Chinese torpedo boat
forced American USS Decatur (DDG-73) torpedo boat to leave the area,
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