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Has the People's Republic caught up?
The Chengdu J-20 marks the first entry of a multirole stealth fighter into China's armed forces. According to the Department of Defense (DOD), China views stealth technology as a core component in the transformation of its air force from "a predominantly territorial air force to one capable of conducting both offensive and defensive operations." Designed for enhanced stealth and maneuverability, the J-20 has the potential to provide China with a variety of previously unavailable air combat options and enhance its capability to project power.
As an advanced multirole stealth fighter, it is speculated that the J-20 can fulfill both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat roles for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army Navy (referred to as either Naval Aviation or the PLAN-AF). According to PLAAF Senior Colonel Shen Jinke, the J-20 will enhance the overall combat capability of China's air force. A 2016 report by the DOD states that the J-20 represents a critical step in China's efforts to develop "advanced aircraft to improve its regional power projection capabilities and to strengthen its ability to strike regional airbases and facilities." In 2014, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission described the J-20 as "more advanced than any other fighter currently deployed by Asia Pacific countries."
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday December 15 2017, @02:07PM (12 children)
China and it's military are an enigma.
China is different than us, in that, they have millenia of history. It's army can trace it's history and/or heritage back five thousand years. It's been up, it's been down, but it has a hell of a lot of heritage to draw upon.
China's Navy? Not so much. It's all new. China HAD a seafaring capability, and they abandoned it. History would have been so very different, if they hadn't scrapped their navy in the 1400's. Today - they lack a real naval tradition such as we inherited from England.
Air? They're new at that as well.
China has impressive numbers, and impressive technology, on paper. But their air and sea power is untested. Put to the test, they may very well kick our asses all around the world. Or, they may prove to be complete duds. Any guess ranging anywhere in that spectrum is equally valid.
I have little doubt that China could kick our asses in a land war. They have the numbers, they have the knowhow, they have everything they need. But no one knows how they'll stand against the west at sea, or in the air. It's all conjecture at this point.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday December 15 2017, @02:21PM (11 children)
Nobody's going to be able to touch mainland China by sea in 5 years time - their artificial islands in South China Sea won't move from there, but it will be a lot harder to destroy than an aircraft carrier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday December 15 2017, @02:44PM (9 children)
Hmmmm - depends on a lot of things, including the willingness to use nukes. Those islands aren't all that very stable - they can be swept away. A single tac nuke for each island, and that barrier is gone.
But, only a bunch of suicidal fools would want to invade mainland China. How many nations would it take to assemble an army as large as China's? And, since the Chinese would have all of the home field advantages, an army as large as China's would still be at a disadvantage.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Friday December 15 2017, @03:02PM (8 children)
You really want to trade Guam for some reef with a weather station and a landing strip?
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday December 15 2017, @03:41PM (7 children)
Not "base", but "bases". Oh yeah - Sun Tzu, remember? The Chinese aren't really into pyrrhic victories. They aren't into all-out war. They may be willing to sacrifice a few divisions, but the introduction of a few tac nukes WITHOUT hitting the homeland would convince them to back down. Unless, of course, they should elect/appoint their own version of Trump. MCGA, anyone? I'm as sure as is possible to be sure that the destruction of those islands would convince the Chinese to fall back, and test their conventional arms. In that case, we would see just how good their navy and air forces are.
Now, if we were so utterly stupid as to send a nuke into any part of mainland China, all bets are off.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday December 15 2017, @10:52PM (2 children)
Don't underestimate Chairman Xi, he's very well into MCGA, without the media excesses of Trump.
When he says "South China Sea is traditionally Chinese" [wikipedia.org] what do you think it means?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday December 15 2017, @11:16PM (1 child)
I think he means that China had the premier world power naval force in the 1400's, and he wants to bring those days back. And, he is working hard to enforce his view.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday December 15 2017, @11:34PM
So... MCGA?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday December 15 2017, @11:48PM (3 children)
> the introduction of a few tac nukes WITHOUT hitting the homeland would convince them to back down.
It's not like that areas has any neighbors who might take offense at getting irradiated in your little war games.
The nukes are forever staying in the box. Period.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday December 16 2017, @02:11AM (2 children)
That's a pretty big assumption there . . .
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Saturday December 16 2017, @02:23AM (1 child)
I must have watched too much propaganda about being the good guys.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday December 16 2017, @07:34AM
Little bit of sarcasm?
Many of us have been warning the partisans on both sides about giving war powers to the president, about passing laws they won't like when the other side is in power. Times change. People don't change as much as some of us wish, but the names and faces change. The D's are squawking about The Orange One today. The time may come when this country looks back on Trump as the last of the benevolent presidents. I mean, the D's may come up with a fifty year winning streak - imagine how much damage they can do in that time!
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday December 15 2017, @04:39PM
Tzar Bomba makes silly little islands look silly.
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