South Asia (known also as Asia) is the largest of the six superstates by area, with major population centres in India, northeast China, and Japan, as well as many isolated cities. South Asia is also particularly vulnerable against submarine-launched missiles, as much of the population lies along the coast.
South Asia has several major neighbours: Russia to the north, Africa to the west, and Europe to the northwest. South Asia must also confront Africa in the Indian Ocean and the Americas in the Pacific, covering a vast sea and land territory.
Population composition
- 45.9, in the Yellow Sea: Tokyo (15.6m), Seoul (8.2m), Shanghai (5.3m), Beijing (4.7m), Shenyang (3.3m), Pusan (3.0m), Harbin (2.1m), Zibo (1.9m), Nagoya (1.8m).
- 22.4m in India: Bombay (8.7m), Delhi (4.1m), Calcutta (2.8m), Madras (2.8m), Bangalore (2.2m), Hyderabad (1.8m).
- 17.6m in central China: Hong Kong (8.8m), Liupanshui (1.8m), Chongqing (2.3m), Xi'an (1.9m), Wuhan (2.8m),
- 8.4m in Southeast Asia: Rangoon (2.1m), Bangkok (4.0m), Ho Chi Minh (2.3)
- 6m in Central Asia: Tehran (4.9m), Kabul (1.1m).
Asia's city standard deviation is 3.25, which is 25.85% lower than the average standard deviation of all superstates of 4.37m. Subtracting the fourth quartile of the 6 largest cities, the new standard deviation is 0.79m, which is 1.76% higher than the 0.77m average. Finally, Asia's median population is 2.8m, which is 12% higher than the 2.5 average. This shows that Asia's cities tend to vary somewhat in size, but as a whole there are few very large cities.
Placement
Silos
Spreading silos along the continent is suicidal, as Asia has many population centres and cannot possibly defend them all. Asia's cities are clustered generally in the Yellow Sea region. Placing the six silos in a tight formation in the northeast corner of China will allow for the immediate interception of missiles threatening Asia's most populous region, though this position is extremely vulnerable to Russian radar.
Radars
Asia is a very large region, and cannot afford to waste radar coverage unnecessarily. Several radars should be placed in the populated northeast, such as in Japan to monitor naval approaches. Radars may also be placed sacrificially; in northwest China, the tip of the Arabian peninsula, or on Asia's Mediterranean coast . In addition, a radar in India can detect competition in the Indian Ocean.
Airbases
Asia has two major naval theatres and cannot possibly defend itself from Russian and African scouting planes. Airbases should be placed in the far east to resupply the fleet, and one in southeast Asia or India to connect all four. The final airbase can be placed in western China or central Asia, to scout Russian territory and arm bombers to prey on undefended European or Russian cities.
Asia must determine their primary enemy, and deploy most of the navy accordingly. Submarines should be kept in home waters, and battleships can scout in DEFCON 5 and 4. Carriers will eventually need to form relay chains across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Similar to the other superstates, it's advised to pair battleships and carriers in groups of four, and keep bombers in the air at all times to react rapidly.
Strategy
Defensive
Prioritisation
South Asia is advised to sacrifice all cities except those in the Yellow Sea region, which includes eastern and northern China and Japan. This is a prime example of unbalanced defence, in which the dense Yellow Sea area is prioritised in favour of all other areas combined.
Alliances
Russia
Allying with Russia will reduce ICBMs approaching from the north and west, which would otherwise strike India and the Middle East. Assuming that the silos were placed in the Yellow Sea region, the Russian missile shield will cover Asia's western half from northern nuclear missiles, and Russian radar will allow for early targeting of incoming missiles. Furthermore, an alliance with Russia will safeguard the Pacific Ocean and allow Asia to focus on the Indian Ocean and local defence.
Africa
Allying with Africa achieves a similar effect, but is less desirable than a Russian alliance, as Russia threatens Asia's most populous areas, including the critical Pacific Ocean. Additionally, the African missile shield does not benefit Asia as the Russian shield does, due to how the population centres of Africa and Asia don't overlap.
Coastal patrols
Although Asia has a vast coastline, only the populated Pacific coast should be prioritised. Due to the lethal nature of submarine MRBMs against the point-heavy Yellow Sea, it's highly advised to keep several naval bombers patrolling the coastline between airbases or carriers. Should submarines surface, they can be destroyed rapidly even if carriers can't get to the area fast enough to contribute.
Controlling straits
In the middle and late stages of the game, Asia can use submarines defensively to safeguard several key chokepoints, particularly the Yellow Sea, Bering Strait, and the passage between Africa and Antarctica. Submarines in active sonar mode will reveal enemy naval units. The vast distance across the Pacific Ocean means that they often take too long to position offensively against the Americas, and are better used to attack Russia's far east and defend home waters.
Offensive
Arabian pocket
Asia has easy access to the Arabian Sea, to the east of India and south of central Asia. In this region, submarines can quickly be massed, and their MRBM range is sufficient to strike the Russian heartland, part of Europe, and much of Africa. This position is highly predictable, and the submarines can be almost instantly destroyed by even blindnuking.