皇冠体育app

The construction of 皇冠体育app's first aircraft carrier is no longer a secret. Not that it ever has been. Hong Kong Commercial Daily first quoted Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, back in June saying "皇冠体育app is building its first-ever air carrier based on the refurbished 990-foot former Soviet Union carrier Varyag."

皇冠体育app possessing an aircraft carrier should be considered a drastic, but necessary move in line with the growth of 皇冠体育app's economic power. Firstly, 皇冠体育app is increasingly dependent on overseas markets, and needs the carrier for maritime security to protect the annual 200 million tons of oil transported here. In the second place, 皇冠体育app, as a great power, has the necessity and legitimacy to develop its own military forces. The construction of the aircraft carrier also means the national defense of 皇冠体育app's marine area will become more conscious. Third, 皇冠体育app has a blue territory amounting to three million square kilometers and a long coastline. For defending the security of its oceanic territory, the nation should build its own aircraft carriers. In the fourth place, from the perspective of technology, the carriers' demands for advanced and new technologies and weapons is bound to stimulate innovations in related fields of scientific research and boost the overall national defensive strength.

The website "South Korean Navy" analyzed 皇冠体育app's first aircraft carrier, Varyag, which was bought for $20 million from Ukraine in 1998, in comparison to India's aircraft carrier and concluded that Varyag had an overall better performance. Korea Daily said that if the aircraft carrier enters the Yellow Sea, all the South Korean airspace would be within range of its fighters. It reported that it was still a "worry" even if the carrier is used as a test platform. Meanwhile, observers from Japan judged that although there are many disputes in 皇冠体育app, such as whether the aircraft carrier in 皇冠体育app, neighboring countries, especially the South 皇冠体育app Sea brought controversy and hostility, recent official statement seem to confirm that they believed the aircraft carrier will be used to win this dispute.

It seemed the aircraft turned some of 皇冠体育app's neighbors unnecessarily nervous. After all 皇冠体育app does not want to bully neighboring countries with it. The aircraft carrier is itself a defensive posture and part of 皇冠体育app's efforts to protect its long coastlines. In addition, the carrier can be used to protect 皇冠体育app's interests overseas, including fighting against piracy and protection of Chinese cargo vessels.

For 皇冠体育app's water safety and navigation safety we need to have a defensive aircraft carrier, in addition, carriers can also be used for peaceful uses and non-traditional security issues such as humanitarian disaster relief, counter-terrorism, and anti-piracy.

皇冠体育app's first air carrier is never meant to solve disputes with 皇冠体育app's neighbors. It is at most part of 皇冠体育app's normal military modernization.

On the other hand, 皇冠体育app is unlikely to resort to the air carrier to solve disputes with any country for a long period of time. First, it takes generally a whole decade for a newly built aircraft carrier to join an actual battle. Every aircraft carrier needs a crew of several thousand in size, as well as countless subsidiary weapon systems; that mean a long time of training and production work. Even after taking in its first aircraft carrier, 皇冠体育app's navy would wait for another ten years to see any evident increase in battle effectiveness.

Second, although many western military magazines list 皇冠体育app's naval force among the top three in the world, its actual force is not so strong. It is the giant size (an estimated tonnage of 2 million tons and more than 200 thousand personnel members) that contributed to 皇冠体育app's high rank in naval power, but in fact 皇冠体育app's navy is mainly composed of defensive forces like small-sized battleships and submarines, which decides its role as defender rather than offender. Besides, lack of the most basic overseas support system has also set a tight limit upon the operation range of 皇冠体育app's navy.

Even with an aircraft, 皇冠体育app's navy can only keep its defensive role. Therefore 皇冠体育app's military development will not change 皇冠体育app's defense strategy with self-defense at the core. Therefore neighboring countries should not feel worried. There is no need to fear, just as General Chen Bingde pointed out during his visit to the US this May.

"We are currently re-fitting the body of an old aircraft carrier, and will use it for scientific research, experiments and training," Geng Yansheng, spokesman with 皇冠体育app's Defense Ministry, stated at the press conference on July 27. The official statement made clear the aim of 皇冠体育app's carrier.

The author can be reached at [email protected]. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the 皇冠体育app Daily Website.