Brad Lendon, CNN: China's aircraft carrier prowling Pacific, sending a message
(CNN)China's lone aircraft carrier is prowling the Pacific as the country seeks to assert its military might and build up its naval warfare capabilities.
The Liaoning carrier's J-15 fighter jets practiced air confrontations and air refueling in the Yellow Sea late last week before the ship and its flotilla of escorting frigates and destroyers headed into the open Pacific beyond Taiwan and Okinawa.
On Monday it headed to the South China Sea -- the site of regional tensions caused by China building fortifications on disputed islands.
It's a move that hasn't gone unnoticed by China's Asian neighbors.
Taiwan sounded a note of alarm, with its defense minister emphasizing the need for vigilance.
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WNU Editor: The key part of this CNN post is the following ....
.... China's state-run Global Times media agency published an editorial on Christmas Day, timed to coincide with the aircraft carrier Liaoning's maneuvers.
The piece called on China to build up its fleet of aircraft carriers, make them combat ready, sail them to Eastern Pacific and look to set up naval supply bases in South America.
The Global Times also said the drill is a sign the Liaoning's combat capability has been enhanced and its areas of operation expanded, and could soon include the Eastern Pacific, including off the US West Coast.
The Global Times editorial is here .... China's carrier fleet must sail beyond offshore zone (Global Times)
2 comments:
China should build a proper fleet before "asserting its military might" because the US and even its allies in eastern Asia are not going to be impressed by a refurbished Soviet carrier which is half the tonnage of a Nimitz-class and only carries 24? Sukhoi-type aircraft.
Lioning is classed as a "training ship".
Being able to build up to extend the support and logistical trail to the point of being able to conduct air operations off the US Mainland, would be the end result of a long period of sucessful training.
China's Type 001A is coming together nicely in drydock and will be an "improved" Lioning variant. As soon as it's out of drydock, a second will be started.
The PLAN's current goal is to have 3 carriers for the South China Sea by 2020, then perhaps strat building the Wushan Designed Nuclear Carriers.
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