China is expected to “own” a third aircraft carrier in the near future, the People’s Daily online, the flagship of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is reporting, quoting a leading naval expert.
The website quoted Liang Fang, a military expert, as saying that “the Chinese military’s combat capability has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade.” He added: “At present, China’s second aircraft carrier is under construction. In the near future, the Chinese Navy is expected to own a third aircraft carrier strike group, capable of safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.” A website affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is also relaying the report.
China has so far deployed Liaoning, its sole, aircraft carrier — an import from Ukraine — whose prime purpose is to impart training, so that a skilled core of personnel is developed, capable of marshalling more combat-worthy aircraft carriers of the future. “While the Liaoning is far from a game-changer in the naval balance of power in the region, it has been efficiently utilised as a training platform to educate the foundational core of officers, sailors and airmen that will build the future Chinese aircraft carrier force,” says Brian Kalman, a military analysts in the website South Front.
Doctrinal shift
Analysts say that the focus on aircraft carriers marks a doctrinal shift, allowing China to gradually transition towards exercising “sea control” far away from shores. At present the Chinese navy is in a “sea denial” mode, focused on deterring external forces from intruding into Chinese waters.
Mr. Liang pointed out that though Chinese aircraft carrier strike group is not comparable with its U.S. counterpart in tonnage or number of aircraft, it nevertheless boasts stamina and a bright future. He stressed that “from the perspective of future development, the U.S. military clearly lacks stamina, and the country’s insufficient military spending is proof of that. In addition, frequent problems with U.S. Navy Super Hornet, F-35C and other carrier-borne fighters have seriously hampered the aircraft carriers’ combat capability.”
China’s assertiveness stressed
The website highlighted China’s assertiveness, in the wake of upcoming naval deployments in the western Pacific by the U.S. navy. “On the first day of the new year, a fleet headed by aircraft carrier Liaoning held drills in the South China Sea (SCS). Around the same time, news was released that the USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier, would deploy from San Diego, California to the Western Pacific region.”
Before entering the SCS, the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group crossed the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea and East China Sea, entering the Western Pacific through the Miyako Strait. The portal said that photos taken by Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force showed that the group included Type-052D destroyer Changsha, Type-052C destroyer Zhengzhou, Haikou, Type-054A frigate Yantai, Linyi, Type-056 light frigate Zhuzhou and integrated supply ship Gaoyou Lake.
China’s second aircraft carrier, CV-17 is currently at an advanced stage of construction at Dalian Shipbuilding in north-eastern China.
