The PLA leaders want to look at it that way, but those interested in projecting power beyond the 1st Island chain do not feel that way at all and have clearly influenced the money strings. The Vayrag is just the latest in at least 3 or 4 other older carrier purchases that the Chinese have made. They are studying the issue and the main arguement right now is whether to build their own first one...or to make the fist something like the Vayrag from which they can learn.
In addition, for the last couple of years at least, at internal airfields, they have been practicing SU-27 and SU-30 aircraft take-offs from land based bow jumps...just like on the Vayrag.
My bet is that they will end up doing both.
Per my #13, one would think their resources were better spent on hardening bases. That, and submarines, seem to be where their heads are at these days.
Jeff, I've lurked some of your stuff and respect your opinion.
How seriously should we take the carrier, given that a REAL ship at sea bobs up-and-down-and-back-and-forth, and a land-based runway does not?
And how well can they coordinate their landings and launchings?
Lotsa logistical and tactical hurdles and lessons to learn before they can touch a US carrier group one-on-one...
No cheers, unfortunately.
PS try reading up on the Avian Flu stuff in China, there are (serious, non tinfoil hat) indications a bioweapon may have got loose, or else naturally occurring gene transfer between Ebola and Avian Flu... (H5N1 is the strain).
Even Less Cheers, Unfortunately!