Fact Check: The USA is bigger than China and Russia and can defeat both in a war

The Claim: "The USA is bigger than China and Russia and can defeat both in a war"

Introduction

The assertion that "The USA is bigger than China and Russia and can defeat both in a war" encompasses two distinct components: a geographical comparison and a military capability assessment. This claim implies not only that the United States has a larger landmass than China and Russia but also that it possesses superior military strength and strategic advantages in potential conflict scenarios.

What We Know

1. Geographical Size: In terms of total area, Russia is the largest country in the world, covering approximately 17.1 million square kilometers. Canada follows, and the United States ranks third at about 9.8 million square kilometers. China is slightly smaller than the U.S., with an area of about 9.6 million square kilometers. Thus, the claim that the U.S. is "bigger" than both China and Russia is factually incorrect when considering land area alone 1.

2. Military Strength: Military comparisons often focus on various factors, including troop numbers, equipment, technology, and nuclear capabilities. According to the Global Firepower Index, the United States ranks first in military strength, followed closely by Russia and China 4. The U.S. military has approximately 1.4 million active personnel and 817,450 reserve personnel, while China has about 2 million active personnel and Russia has around 1 million 10.

3. Military Capabilities: The U.S. is noted for its advanced technology and global reach, with a significant naval presence and a robust air force. In contrast, China has been rapidly modernizing its military and expanding its naval capabilities, while Russia maintains a strong emphasis on land forces and nuclear deterrence 25.

Analysis

The claim's validity hinges on both the geographical assertion and the military capabilities comparison.

Geographical Assessment

The assertion that the U.S. is "bigger" than both China and Russia is misleading. While the U.S. is larger than China, it is significantly smaller than Russia. This discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of the claim and suggests a need for precise definitions of "bigger"—whether it refers to land area, population, or economic size.

Military Capability Evaluation

When evaluating military strength, it is essential to consider various metrics. The U.S. has a technological edge in many areas, including air power and naval capabilities, but China has a larger standing army and is investing heavily in military modernization 34. The claim that the U.S. can "defeat" both countries in a war is speculative and contingent on numerous factors, including the nature of the conflict, geographical considerations, alliances, and the specific military strategies employed.

Source Reliability

• Global Firepower: This source is widely regarded for its comprehensive military rankings and is updated annually. However, it may have inherent biases in how it evaluates military strength based on different criteria 4.
• RAND Corporation: Known for its rigorous research, the RAND report on U.S.-China military capabilities provides a detailed analysis but may reflect a Western perspective on military assessments 5.
• Armed Forces Comparison Websites: While these sites provide useful data, they often lack the depth of analysis found in more scholarly sources and may prioritize certain metrics over others, potentially skewing comparisons 17.

Conclusion

Verdict: False

The claim that "The USA is bigger than China and Russia and can defeat both in a war" is false based on two key pieces of evidence. Firstly, in terms of geographical size, the United States is indeed larger than China but significantly smaller than Russia, which is the largest country in the world. Secondly, while the U.S. maintains a technological edge in military capabilities, the assertion that it can definitively defeat both China and Russia in a war is speculative and lacks sufficient context, as military outcomes depend on numerous unpredictable factors.

It is important to recognize that while the U.S. has a powerful military, the complexities of warfare, including strategies, alliances, and the nature of the conflict, make definitive statements about military superiority problematic. Additionally, the sources used to evaluate military strength may have inherent biases or limitations, which should be considered when interpreting the data.

Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate information and claims, especially those involving complex geopolitical and military dynamics, and to seek out diverse sources to form a well-rounded understanding of such topics.

Sources

1. USA vs China and Russia | Comparison military strength. Armed Forces. Retrieved from armedforces.eu
2. How Big is the Power Gap Between China and the United States? Military View. Retrieved from militaryview.com
3. USA vs China Military Strength Comparison. Best Diplomats. Retrieved from bestdiplomats.org
4. United States vs Russia: Which Superpower Is Really More Dominant? 24/7 Wall St. Retrieved from 247wallst.com
5. An Interactive Look at the U.S.-China Military Scorecard. RAND Corporation. Retrieved from rand.org
6. USA vs Russia and China military power 2024. YouTube. Retrieved from youtube.com
7. China vs USA | Comparison military strength. Armed Forces. Retrieved from armedforces.eu
8. Countries Military Forces comparison: China vs United States. Global Military. Retrieved from globalmilitary.net
9. Comparison of China and Russia Military Strengths (2025). Global Firepower. Retrieved from globalfirepower.com
10. A Comparison of USA and Russia Military Power in 2025. Best Diplomats. Retrieved from bestdiplomats.org