China intent on aircraft carrier goal

washington times ^ | May 28, 2007 | By Richard Halloran

[Flavius]

ONOLULU -- The new commander of U.S. military forces in the Pacific and Asia says he found Chinese military leaders intensely interested in acquiring aircraft carriers during a recent visit to that country. Adm. Timothy J. Keating added in an interview that he had warned the Chinese about the huge challenges involved in building and manning an aircraft carrier. "I suggested let's not be naive about the complexity of those ships, and they are not cheap," he said.

[Oztrich Boy]

If the Chinese military declares openly interest in aircraft carrier, this is an old Oriental trick. All ways pay attention to what they don’t say versus what they do say.

I'd saw refitting a Russki carrier and purchasing the carrier-capable version of the Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker calls for some attention.

[Fee]

IMHO China will activate a carrier for the purpose of training a cadre in carrier operations. I think the Varyag represents this first opportunity, but to build a fleet of carriers to challenge the US in the Far East will require alot of resources and finances. China made one major note on the Cold War, do not challenge the US directly unless necessary, because the US will build you into the ground. China’s GDP is only $ 2 trillion while the US is $ 12 trillion. Until China has an economy atleast one half of the US or greater can China build and operate a carrier navy. Britain and France GDP is about $ 3 to 4 trillion and they barely can afford to maintain a carrier fleet. IMHO China will develop a powerful sub fleet before she will concentrate on a full fledge carrier force. Her potential adversaries are Japan and Taiwan, both island nations that are vulnerable to submarine and minewarfare. A surface fleet will have a harder time getting thru these island barriers in an event of war involving US intervention. Subs on the other hand are harder to detect. IMHO keep an eye on the Chinese sub and missile developments.

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

Thanks again for the ping, Vroom!

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[magslinger]

Ahem. Two cats are sufficient.

[ponder life]

China’s GDP is only $ 2 trillion while the US is $ 12 trillion.

China is closer to $3 trillion.

Until China has an economy atleast one half of the US or greater can China build and operate a carrier navy.

More accurately, until China is fully integrated into the world economy. They have other priorities right now. By the time they are fully integrated into the world economy, their GDP may actually be roughly equal to or slightly greater than the US.

Britain and France GDP is about $ 3 to 4 trillion and they barely can afford to maintain a carrier fleet.

More like under $3 trillion each. China's economy is ranked at 4th largest in the world (after the US, Japan and Germany). So, they are ahead of France and Great Britain. And when purchasing power parity is used, they have long been 2nd in the world.

[wideminded]

and they have increased military spending to finally support such an endeavour.

Which we are paying for.

[Jeff Head]

Here's the latest pic of the Varyag...from May. Looks like the deck and hull are pretty much done. Do not know what they have done in the last four years inside...but she did have an extended period in dry dock and has been painted in occial PLAN colors.

A lot of time and money has been put into the Varyag, and all of it in a secure NAval shipyard.

[FormerACLUmember]

The ChiComs are apparantly going to launch the Varyag in maybe 6-8 years. Half that time if Hillary gets back into power and the Clintons start selling our national security secrets to the Chinese military again.