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.
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.
“...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.
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.
The Chinese have a long way to go to match 90 yrs of U.S. carrier tactics.
Silly yankee...That not aircraft carrier, haha...it floating china factory where quality product for yankee come from.. haha...It where tainted doggy yum yums are made...We build more floating factories to help make yankee strong and proud! Bye bye now!
One aircraft carrier does not a world naval power make. Ask the UK, France, or even Thailand. Though it is not my intention to diminish the threat, especially to Taiwan, the sortie rate of one carrier, oil fired as it is will be quite low. A future nuclear powered carrier, would not help the sortie rate. Which is why the US currently has eleven commissioned with one under construction.
The real practical strategic value of China’s carrier may be to improve the survivability of the PRC’s ballistic missile subs. That was the intended use of the Russian-version Varyag. Even though relatively small, it could provide anti-air and anti-sub patrols to give more credibility to China’s nuclear deterrent threat.
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Lets see, First space heater made in Mexico lasted me 9 years keeping me warm under my desk.
Second space heater made in CHINA lasted 1 1/2 months until the knobs stopped working, the decals falling off and the fan sounding like an F-14 taking off the dying all together.
Third space heater, Made in CHINA lasted 3 months (woohoo!) till Feb when it started sparking and melting.
Those are just the heaters, Don’t get me started on the blender, shop vac, cordless drill, power washer, weed wacker, etc etc....
No, i’m not too worried about a chinese carrier.
The engines will seize, prop shafts will un-balance, The “steel” hull will prematurely rot, the Cafeteria will poison the sailors........and so on.
A Chinese made bridge built in China and then shipped to the SF Bay area has more potential damage.
NOt while we have nuclear subs loaded with ship to ship cruise missiles bearing fissile material war heads.
BADABOOM....then just so much Hoo Flung Dung.