this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2025
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200 billion? The people's liberation army is about 2 million strong so that would make 100k per person for salary, side costs, space and equipment. Considering the equipment is pretty cheap, say 3k total, add fifty square meters of office space per officer at 20$/sqm and 10$ per sqm of electricity, water etc, it leaves 79k fir salary and side costs. Assume 30% side cost level for medical and whatnot it leaves 49k/year for salary before tax.
Can you hire a goon for that in the US? I would assume yes, since the internet tells me the starting pay for a sergeant first class in the US Army is 43k/year.
Let me introduce you to something called purchase power parity. When you actually consider what things cost in each country, the US and China spend comparable amounts on their military budget right now. The cost for the US to field a single soldier is around $250k/year. And more if they're deployed somewhere hostile. Similar, the salary of an ICE agent is but a fraction of employing an ICE agent.