Ian aircraft are just 1 part of this. we still use more the just those. Of course if that is if we need anyone to fly the drone in cockpit.
my argument only simply if russia, china, NK, iran, and some other middle eastern countries don't come together this whole argument will end mute.
It would be the same for Germany, a very strong foe on its own, but to run more offensives, they needed Italy and Japan in WW2. Japan makes it possible to run in to Asia better. While Italy was a strategic partner for a southern expansive front. Mean time Germany is pushing towards the heavier armies of France and Britain.
Hence, it would be the combination of several small armies causing problems and road blocks combined with the more advanced and larger armies that would make a network that is not as strong on the tech side as the US and its allies ATM, but would make it larger than the US and its allies.
China has a large land force
All im saying is that you can usually get a general idea of a country's military capability from its defense spending. China's defense spending is around 150 billion(which dwarfs Russia's spending btw) and has been steadily rising while American and other NATO country's defense spending has been declining. America's military spending is still far higher at around 650 billion and obviously we have better tech and experience but I wouldn't be surprised if Chinese spending reaches 300 billion in the next 20 yrs. They've also spent a great deal of money and time investing in land based anti aircraft and anti aircraft carrier batteries which would directly counter American presence in the region as these are the main ways America projects power in the Pacific