China's aircraft loading ships show strength in the open Pacific
China's aircraft loading ships show strength in the open Pacific
Seoul, South Korea-in the past few months the Chinese aircraft carrier operational groups have further removed from their home coasts and operated in greater strength than ever before. Analysts and civil servants agree that this not only represents a test of the latest technologies, but also sends a clear message: China is a power to calculate.
exercises of the People's Liberation Army
Since the beginning of May, a flotilla of the Navy People's Liberation Army (plan), led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, conducts exercises north of the Philippines. The latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is currently being tested in the controversial waters west of the Korean peninsula. The oldest carrier, the Liaoning, has led exercises in the Pacific waters of the exclusive economic zone of Japan.
first use of the EMALS system
During the exercises, the Fujian carried out aircraft start and landing maneuvers for the first time, using the advanced electromagnetic catapulting system (Emals). This is a significant development, since only another carrier in the world - the latest US Navy carrier, which USS Gerald R. Ford - has such a system.
strategic message to Taiwan
Last Monday, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that the Shandong and its support ships in the waters southeast of the Miyako island trained in the Prefecture Okinawa. For the first time, there are two Chinese aircraft carriers in the open Pacific. The focus of these exercises is Taiwan, the democratically ruled island, which is claimed by China's communist party, even though this never had control over the area.China's military strategies and the first chain of island
China's head of state XI Jinping has sworn to reach “reunification” with Taiwan, if necessary also by force. Analysts indicate that the exercises in the Pacific targeted areas, through the American naval support for Taiwan in the event of a conflict. A Taiwanese security officer explained that the plan regularly used around 70 warships and coastal guards in the waters of the first chain of island, which extends from Japan to the Philippines.
increasing presence in controversial waters
The Chinese naval forces reinforce their visibility around the Diaoyu Islands, which are controlled by Japan. According to statistics from the Japanese Ministry of Defense, more than 100 Chinese ships have operated on the coherent zone of these islands in the past 24 months. The controversial islands in the South China Sea have recently led to violent clashes between Chinese and Filipino forces, while Beijing is trying to enforce its demands on geographical features in this important merchant water path.
US reactions on China's military actions
US defense minister Pete Hegseth criticized tactics at a recent defense forum in Singapore Beijing. He explained that every one -sided change in the status quo in the southern China Sea and the first chain of island is unacceptable by violence or intimidation. "It must be clear to everyone that Beijing credibly prepares to use military violence in order to change the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific," said Hegseth.
operations beyond the second chain of island
While Hegseth focused on China's activities within the first chain of island, the plan recently carried out carrier operations beyond the second chain. Japanese officials reported that two Chinese aircraft carriers operate deep in the open Pacific. This shows that China plans to improve the operational skills of his aircraft carriers to carry out operations in remote areas of the sea.
Expansion of China's marine capacities
The latest movements of the PLA Navy signal China's growing maritime potential and the willingness to use it. A spokesman for the Chinese Navy emphasized that the exercises were not directed against specific countries. Nevertheless, it becomes clear that these activities send a strategic message to the neighbors of China.
The latest shipwriter: fujian
The Fujian, China's latest aircraft carrier, is expected to be the central for the military plans to operate far into the Pacific or other oceans. With a displacement of around 80,000 tons and a load-bearing capacity of around 50 aircraft, it is one of the largest non-American warships that have ever been built. Their tests in the yellow sea marked a significant progress in the operations of the plan.
In summary, it can be said that China's marine grows rapidly in both her structure and in her skills and prepares for an important role in the international maritime environment. These developments require careful observation of the international community, in particular the USA and its allies in the Indo-Pacific.