Are we making too big of a deal about China's first aircraft carrier?

The China Teaching Web ^ | 8-12-2011 | Robert Vance

[robertvance]

On August 14th, 1912, the United States launched its first aircraft carrier, the USS Langley. This 11,500 ton ship served during both World Wars until its luck ran out near Java in 1942 and had to be abandoned and sunk in order to avoid capture by the Japanese.

Almost one hundred years later, China has just launched its first aircraft carrier and the U.S. State department is demanding to know why.

"We would welcome any kind of explanation that China would like to give for needing this kind of equipment," said Victoria Nuland, a State department spokeswoman.

Let me give you the explanation, Victoria. China is the world’s largest country and has recently become the second largest economy behind the United States. China is also the undisputed powerhouse in Asia. Is that a good enough explanation for you?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Never underestimate the Chinese. They are a brilliant and resourceful people, and have the will power and ambition to succeed. And remember, they did hand us our arses during the Korean War because we did not take them seriously.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

No more hiding unless you are willing to shoot down or take over their satellites ... and the Dems are pretty much preventing us from going there.

But the Red Chinese have no such qualms...

China hails satellite killer - and stuns its rivals in space

US Condemns China Satellite-Killer Test

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

From what I understand this aircraft carrier is a have finished turd that used to belong to the Russians

Which the ChiComs have refitted and turned into a first class warship...

What folks here need to realize is that this carrier is NOT intended to go head-to-head with the USN, but to project power against Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Japan, India, and even the Horn of Africa. For dealing with the USN and its carriers, the ChiComs will do THIS...

The uninvited guest: Chinese sub pops up in middle of U.S. Navy exercise, leaving military chiefs red-faced

Our own in-house expert Jeff Head has been tracking ChiCom naval development for over ten years now, and has placed his research, with excellent, high-quality photographs, up at his website so that you can see what the ChiComs are up to.

VARYAG TRANSFORMATION INTO AN OPERATIONAL PLAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

[TalBlack]

Frankly I think this carrier is a ruse of some kind. Chinese have some other set of tactics that they are hiding behind this ridiculous carrier idea. It's kind of like deciding to learn to box so you can kick the crap out of that annoying Joe Louis falla.

[Jimmy Valentine]

The Varyag is a piece of junk. I'm convinced that the Chinese are fooling with it as a decoy away from their real intent.

The Chinese have never been great on the water, but kick butt on land.

Siberia has resources, space etc. etc.

Vladi Putin better put his shirt back on and figure out how to defend everything east of the Carpathians.

[lentulusgracchus]

The fact many here don’t comprehend is...... China is.

What the hell?

How about a few verses of ho On, ho On, Ontos-On, ho On, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, eis tous aionas and let's just worship China some more?

What is this, the Bill Clinton Chapter of IYRedChina.com ?

[EnglishCon]

As Archie Bunker used to say, “Whoop dee do.”

---

Know you didn’t mean to, but that made me howl with laughter. Archie Bunker is a direct copy of Alf Garnett, from the British series “Til Death Do Us Part.”

[robertvance]

Nobody’s worshiping China, here. The State Department looks silly though demanding that China be more transparent about their plans for this new aircraft carrier.

[tanknetter]

Your teacher isn't very knowledgeable on aircraft carriers.

France, India, Britain, .... no it isn't easy but just having an aircraft carrier isn't that big a deal.

Actually, the teacher is pretty knowledgeable on the subject.

Building a carrier, even taking one to sea is one thing. Effectively operating it is entirely another.

Next to the US, the French have the "best" carrier capability. By a lot of accounts, the De Gaulle has been a near-disaster - up to and including its recent operations in Libya.

Hell, you might as well strike the Brits off the list, since the doesn't even HAVE a carrier capability anymore. With the retirement of the Harriers all it has are two LPHs (one a bit more glorified than the other).

With the exception of the US the CVs of all the "carrier navies" are just white elephant "national prestige" ships with very little - if any - value when it comes to actual power projection.

Varyag is no different.

[tanknetter]

Which the ChiComs have refitted and turned into a first class warship...

Yet to be proven. Yes, they can take the thing out of port under its own power. Yes, they can land helicopters aboard it.

The most recent overhead shots indicate that neither the JBDs (Jet Blast Deflectors) or the arresting gear has been installed yet. So while it could theoretically launch fixed wing aircraft (using the ski jump) under narrow conditions, it can't bring them back aboard.

As it is, the ChiComs weren't able to figure out how to remove the Granit silos from the forward deck. So the empty tubes are still there, just plated over. Says a lot, since those tubes take up a heck of a lot of space better used for other things.

[tanknetter]

Nobody’s worshiping China, here. The State Department looks silly though demanding that China be more transparent about their plans for this new aircraft carrier.

Not so much silly as arrogant. In a decidedly "ugly American"ish sort of way.

So long as its operating within treaties*, China can do whatever it wants. We just have to be prepared for the consequences.

(* should note that the completion of this ship may actually constitute a treaty violation ... or perhaps more appropriately a contractual one. A condition of the sale (from the Ukraine) and passage out of the Black Sea (so Turkey) was that it was supposed to be used as a casino. Not sure whether it's existence as a floating crapshoot constitutes such ... )

[VRW Conspirator]

The problem is that he’ll make sure after he makes his bed, someone else will have to sleep in it.

This concept explains Obama's actions more than anything. He will have his hard-left policies or he will set the house on fire before he leaves. How else could someone explain away his acts of political suicide?

This nihilistic attitude is now working against him. He is swinging the country to the right by scaring the dickens out of the average voter.

[Oztrich Boy]

If I am not mistaken, the Emperial Japanese Navy had existed since the 1600’s. They were an established naval power in the East and even defeated the Russian Navy in 1904 or 1905.

You are mistaken, under the Shogunate, Japan was a mediæval society, existence of any vessel over 75' was banned. It was only after Cdr Perry arrived that the nore powerful feudal lords (a group that definitely did not include the Emperor) began to acquire smaller warships.

The IJN did not exist until after the Meji Restoration in 1868. Its first major ship was the French built Adzuma - built as CSS Sphinx for the Conferderate States of America, Union pressure France caused the contract to be cancelled and it was the sold as Stærkoder to Denmark (then at war with Prussia). It arrived after the war was over, the Danes refused delivery. it was sold to abother owner and sailed as MV Olinde, while at sea it became CSS Stonewall, and broke though a Union blockade off Ferrol, Spain. It arrived in Havana after the Civil War ended and was turned over to the United States Government.

In 1867, they sold it to the Japanese Shogun. By the time it arrived in Japan. the war between the Shogun and the Emperor was brewing, and both sides claimed it. When the Shogun retired to his stronghold, the Emperor took possesion of it as IJN Kotetsu in 1869.

Only 35 years later, the IJN decisively defeated the third largest navy in the world.

[bert]

That is total BS. Get real....there is more to the world than the view from under the rock.

It is 2011 not 1956.

Change happens.

[Vermont Lt]

“They demand to know why!”

Because it might be easy to launch a bi plane from the tail end of a cruiser, it is a real bitch to land them on the same ship.

Duh.

[Vermont Lt]

And the Russians spent the next few months in space breathing in these little graphite filings. Mmmm good.

[Zhang Fei]

I don't think it's pointless to make these statements at all. It's a way of signaling to the Chinese (and our regional allies) that we're watching what they're doing and that there will be a US response against any Chinese territorial encroachments. Whether this deters them is another question. But this is a diplomatic marker. No one wants to repeat April Glaspie's mistake of saying to Saddam that Iraq's territorial disputes with Kuwait were of no concern to the US, in the run-up to the Iraqi conquest and annexation of Kuwait.

This website encapsulates the Chinese mindset, which really doesn't differ all that much from the Japanese mindset before the onset of the Sino-Japanese War. The Chinese do want peace, but the peace of a victorious conquering army.

[Vermont Lt]

NO US President is going to stand in the way of the Chicoms from taking Taiwan. We might send a carrier into the waters, but we won’t lift a finger—other than to evacuate our nationals. And even then, it would probably be safer to leave them there until the shooting stops.

[Zhang Fei]

By a lot of accounts, the De Gaulle has been a near-disaster - up to and including its recent operations in Libya.

Out of curiosity, what issues have you seen in relation to the de Gaulle? It conducted 4-1/2 months of operations off the Libyan coast before being taken in to port for maintenance.

[JDW11235]

Since we both used pencils, at the same time, and we both used the Fisher pen, at the same time, I doubt there were any more complications with the one nation using them over the other. The partially inaccurate information and correction has already been made!