2010 populations:
California: 37,253,956
Texas: 25,145,561
California wins
Clearly, then, the US would lose in a war to China. Right?
Anyway, the obvious answer here is Texas. IIRC it's the eighth-largest economy in the world when taken as its own sovereign state. A world capital for energy and oil, huge expansion rates (Houston's on track to become the third biggest city in the country)... oh, and don't forget about how they love their guns.
--
Tebow to Jests?
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m19b15IB731qzdb47o1_400.png