Chinese seamen stand in formation forming six Chinese characters reading "Chinese dream, military dream" on the board of China's first aircraft carrier Liaoning. (Xinhua)
The Real Reason China Wants Aircraft Carriers -- Bryan McGrath & Seth Cropsey, Real Clear Defense
China's Carrier Plans Target U.S. Alliances, Not Its Navy
Last week, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was the guest of honor for a tour of China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning, an event that once again raised U.S. media interest in China’s navy, its aspirations, and the role this carrier and others may someday play.
It is not clear how many or what kind of carriers China will eventually build—whether they will more closely resemble Liaoning or be somewhat more modest in design, akin to U.S. Wasp-class amphibious assault ships. The former point China toward grander power projection missions; the latter toward the more immediate goal of establishing hegemony over its neighbors, many of whom have territorial disputes with China in the South and East China Seas. But it does appear that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has the aircraft carrier “bug” and the implications for the United States are large, whichever course Beijing takes.
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My Comment: For the next decade China's foreign policy will be focused on it's neighbors .... more to the point ... telling them who is the boss in the region. This includes using political and economic levers .... and with aircraft carriers they will soon be able to add a very potent military lever to the mix.
1 comment:
You're right. It's the old the cops (US Navy) can't be everywhere, but we live here.
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