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China Moving Full Speed Ahead in Construction of Aircraft Carriers

posted by CoolHand on Monday October 05 2015, @09:32PM   Printer-friendly
from the no-longer-isolationist dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Satellite photos analyzed by IHS Janes show China has dramatically ramped up efforts to construct a second aircraft carrier—the first to be built indigenously there. While the new ship will likely not be a match for US aircraft carriers, it is important for a number of reasons, and representative of China's ambitions to be a naval superpower. The ship is in "advanced state of construction" in a Dailan shipyard, according to analysis of commercial satellite images by IHS Jane's. And China's goal is reportedly to launch the new carrier by this December (in time for Mao Zedong's 122nd birthday), and outfit it by the end of next year.

China's plans to build new carriers have not exactly been a secret. Construction of the ship started in March, and was confirmed to be a carrier by Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) officials speaking to Hong Kong Commercial Daily. The new carrier, called the Type 001A, will include technology currently only used aboard US carriers, according to PLA Navy senior officers: an electromagnetic catapult that will allow aircraft to be launched with greater fuel and weapons loads. That would put China into a very exclusive club.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 05 2015, @10:17PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 05 2015, @10:17PM (#245848)

    China's immediate use for carriers is to project power across East and South China Seas. It just might prompt us to sell cruise missiles to our SE Asian allies.

    This seems reminiscent of 1930's, when we are warning the Japanese to knock it off. Now it's the Chinese pulling the same stunt.

  • (Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Monday October 05 2015, @11:41PM

    by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Monday October 05 2015, @11:41PM (#245869)

    AC's comment is true, but my question is "Why does the United States need to project power across South East Asia"?
    I guess making lots of money selling arms to allies in the region probably answers that.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 05 2015, @11:47PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 05 2015, @11:47PM (#245873)

      Nah. The reason we meddle in Asia/Pacific is not all that different from almost a century ago. We face both Pacific and Atlantic. Weapons sales is a negligible, if relevant at all, part.