Our Armed forces; While we aren't looking

[I started this thread in a forum; Decided to paste it here]


Due to the recent thread on NS, I went to do a little catch-up on my reading. Imagine my surprise when I came across an analyst saying that Singapore is considered to have the largest and strongest force in S.E.A.
I went, "What??!!"


A quick visit to wiki got me the figures.

We... (29th largest in the world, in terms of numbers)


1) compared against Malaysia (62nd largest in the world, in terms of numbers)
wins in every aspect


2) Thailand (19th largest in the world, in terms of numbers)
infantry: approx 75% of their size
armour: same qty but more superior
airforce: same qty but more modern
navy: greater numbers + more modern


3) Indonesia (16th largest in the world, in terms of numbers)
infantry: approx 50% of their size
armour: lesser but theirs are light tanks
airforce: same qty but more modern
navy: greater numbers + more modern



(opinion)
Some time ago, a country threatened us using veiled words. On one hand, they acknowledged that we have a modern army. On the other, they pointed out that our city is very good target for bombs. I couldn't understand why. Didn't we just render them aid? They fear us?

Things suddenly made a lot of sense now.