Posted on 06/28/2011 8:18:16 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Should We Be Afraid of China's New Aircraft Carrier?
Not yet.
BY ABRAHAM M. DENMARK, ANDREW S. ERICKSON, AND GABRIEL COLLINS | JUNE 27, 2011
Six months ago, Gen. Liu Huaqing -- the father of China's modern navy and its commander from 1982 to 1988 (and, according to the state-run People's Daily, "a distinguished member of the CPC, a seasoned loyal Communist fighter, an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, politician and strategist, and an excellent leader of the Party, the state and the military") -- passed away. Liu sought to build China's navy first into a "green water" fleet and, eventually, into a full-fledged "blue water" navy capable of projecting power over vast distances. Key to realizing Liu's vision was an aircraft carrier, and Liu reportedly vowed: "I will not die with my eyes closed if I do not see a Chinese aircraft carrier in front of me."
While Liu may have died with his eyes open, they can close now. From the harbor at Dalian naval shipyard in northeast China, the first aircraft carrier of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) will soon set sail for the first time. And much of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the Asia-watching strategic community in the United States, is hotly debating the implications of this move.
Adm. Robert Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said in an April interview with Bloomberg that he is "not concerned" about China's first carrier going to sea, but allowed: "Based on the feedback that we received from our partners and allies in the Pacific, I think the change in perception by the region will be significant." Japan's Asahi Shimbun
(Excerpt) Read more at foreignpolicy.com ...
RE: the article’s title...Betcha there are a bunch of sailors who serve aboard Los Angeles-class attack subs who would answer “Uh...no.”
If it’s anything like two thirds of the Chinese crap I am forced to buy because there is no alternative — then, no, I doubt it’ll stay afloat for more than a couple months.
We’ll probably see that new carrier lying next to someone’s driveway awaiting the garbage truck before it gets around to threatening us.
I think China should be afraid of it falling apart.
Yup. The Chicoms steal but don’t improve. We create cool killer stuff like Reaper drones and we’ve got our Navy around the world, while they don’t. My cuz who serves close to the DMZ once said that the first thing the Chicoms will try is Taiwan and we have more than enough to knock em out.
Depends on who you are. If you're on a US warship, no worries at all. But if you're in the Filipino Navy, or the Vietnamese Navy, or the Japanese Navy, maybe.
Because if America pulls back, you'll be on your own.
All that it takes is one MK48 torpedo.
“...Should We Be Afraid of China’s New Aircraft Carrier?...”
No more than we were of the Akagi and her sister ships. They have be residing at the bottom of the Pacific ever since the US Navy sent them to Davy Jone’s locker for all time. If China wants to re-enact that event, come get some. We’re game.
>> we have more than enough to knock em out
I have no doubt of that fact. The real question: do we have the will to use it?
This also applies to our carriers.
We were lucky that day.
I think the article sets the tone right. This is not really a big deal to us now. But in 20 or 30 years, it could be. As Admiral Mullen referred to last year. This debt problem is getting to the point of affecting our national security. We have to get our debt and spending under control for national security reasons. So we can continue to stay ahead of the competition militarily so to speak.
Hopefully this has a side benefit of Japan changing it’s constitution to allow for the building of offensive minded ships. Between us, India, South Korea, Japan and even the Phillipines I think that we can contain this Chinese tiger for a long time if we get out from our debt problems!!
Let’s remember, it was only about 35 years ago that the Vietnamese navy kicked China’s naval tail. This is the Vietnamese navy for crying out loud.
The threat is not the carrier itself its the fact that the Red Chinese now have the industrial, technological, and financial capacity to build and field such a thing. What will they be building in ten or twenty years. What will the US have the capacity to build and field in ten or twenty years? The way things are going in a few years the Red Chinese could very well buy our entire navy, cheap.
More than most people realize. And it came at a terrible cost. Fortunately for us, it cost the Japanese more.
I remember when it was a Soviet Aircraft carrier. A military pundit said; “it’s not a carrier. it’s a target.”
“...We were lucky that day....”
Yes we were. No doubt about that. While they sank the Yorktown, we got the Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu. With the loss of those four carriers, the Japanese naval effort was severely crippled. They still put up a he!! of a fight after those went to the bottom.
The same fate remains for China’s carrier if they want to press any issue with us. Let ‘em try.
The Chinese have a long way to go to match 90 yrs of U.S. carrier tactics.
But do we have the leadership of a Nimitz, a Spruance, a Halsey and others of the greatest generation?
Remember who is in charge right now and what his track record is.
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