Saturday, February 25, 2017

China Builds Up Its Naval Capabilities

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier with accompanying fleet conducts a drill in an area of South China Sea in this undated photo taken December, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Reuters: Wary of Trump unpredictability, China ramps up naval abilities

The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China's upcoming defense budget as Beijing seeks to check U.S. dominance of the high seas and step up its own projection of power around the globe.

China's navy has been taking an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and new Chinese warships popping up in far-flung places.

Now, with President Donald Trump promising a U.S. shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on hot button issues including Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, China is pushing to narrow the gap with the U.S. Navy.

Read more ....

Update: China’s Naval Shipbuilding Sets Sail (Andrew Erickson, National Interest)

WNU Editor: This is one way that the Chinese are trying to catch up to the US Navy .... China's New Frigate Design Looks Awfully Familiar (Popular Mechanics).

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