THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA
Posted on 03/07/2007 2:09:50 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
China says aircraft carrier possible by 2010: paper
Wed Mar 7, 1:00 AM ET
China could build its first aircraft carrier by 2010 if current research and development proceeds smoothly, a Hong Kong newspaper quoted a Chinese general as saying on Wednesday.
The Beijing-funded Wen Wei Po newspaper identified the source as a "zhong jiang," meaning lieutenant general or vice admiral, depending on the service, and a member of the military delegation at a parliament session in Beijing. It did not give further details.
Experts say China's military has been researching carriers for years as a way to protect its interests offshore, but there has been no formal admission of a program to build one.
Earlier this week, China announced a 17.8 percent rise in its official defense budget for 2007, to 350.92 billion yuan ($45.32 billion), continuing a trend of double-digit growth. Foreign experts say the real amount may be three or more times that.
China has been modernizing its military with an emphasis on naval and air power to strengthen its hand with regard to Taiwan and too also better protect its economic interests such as shipping lanes in the South China Sea.
Beijing says its military is only for defense, but the rapid upgrade of its capabilities in recent years has worried some in the region.
Ties between China and Taiwan have become increasingly strained recently as Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian raised Beijing's ire with pro-independence comments.
On Monday, Taiwan's defense ministry said Beijing's increasing defense spending threatened regional peace and upset the military balance in favor of China.
Last month, a Japanese legislator warned that Japan could become a Chinese province "if something goes wrong in Taiwan in the next 15 years."
The military buildup has been a source of friction with the United States, which is obliged under the Taiwan Relations Act to help Taiwan defend itself.
China's President Hu Jintao in December urged the building of a powerful Chinese navy that was prepared "at any time" for military struggle.
($1=7.743 yuan)
Still, I'm not sure how well they will fare with it and the battle group they are obviously trying to build around it, since they have never done this kind of thing before, and to develop successful CONOPS, you have to make mistakes at an operational level. There's no way around it, in my humble opinion.
Still, if it and a few of their new Russian-inspired destroyers and diesel subs park off the Spratley's, it'll be a real thorn in someone's side.
My first thought was that it will make a great artificial reef about an hour after hostilities break out.
Yes...imagine that. Curious thing.
Agreed...but it is clear that they intend to be about it.
Too true...
Nothing as satisfying as a big target.
....with lots of emitters.
ping
Wow! 2010 with their first carrier only 90 years behind the rest of the military powers. At this rate should we expect unmanned drones within say 50 years?
Still and all, i certainly would not want to get into a fight with an Iowa Class battleship
Err carriers have been a luxury of sorts for most world powers-The Russians didn't have there's till the mid-70s,but how far behind were they in other areas??
They still are behind.
The Russians had ICBMs the same time as the US did & were infact marginally ahead in cruise missile/anti-ship technology.
Well good for the Soviet Union err I mean the former Soviet Union.
MAGLEV NOW!!!!!
Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
This is a low volume pinglist.
China has a massive and impressive naval tradition. Don't underrate their capability to return to that tradition.
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