Yazılar

China’s New Aircraft Carrier Sparks Interest Amid Naval Expansion

/in /tarafından

Recent satellite imagery indicates that China is constructing a new and unusual type of aircraft carrier at Guangzhou Shipyard International on Longxue Island in Guangdong province. This vessel, which features a large, open flat top, has caught the attention of military experts due to its atypical design and smaller size compared to China’s existing naval carriers.

Thomas Shugart, a former U.S. Navy submarine commander and fellow at the Center for a New American Security, remarked that this potential new aircraft carrier is “somewhat unusual” in shape and size, making it smaller than the Type 075 amphibious assault ships currently in service. Shugart speculated that it may be the world’s first “ostensibly civilian ‘aircraft carrier’ used as an oceanographic research vessel.”

The report about this new vessel first emerged from The War Zone, which highlighted China’s accelerating production of advanced warships, often rivaling U.S. carrier technology. Earlier this year, China’s most formidable aircraft carrier to date, the Fujian, underwent sea trials, with expectations that it could be operational by 2026. The Fujian, displacing 80,000 tons, surpasses the PLAN’s existing carriers, the 66,000-ton Shandong and the 60,000-ton Liaoning, placing it alongside the supercarriers operated solely by the U.S. Navy.

In addition to these developments, China is also making strides in constructing the world’s largest amphibious assault ship, the Type 076, which features an expansive flight deck comparable to the area of three U.S. football fields. This rapid naval expansion has propelled China’s fleet to over 340 warships, making it the largest navy globally.

The construction of this new aircraft carrier-type vessel may reflect China’s broader “military-civil fusion strategy,” which aims to integrate civilian and military capabilities. Shugart noted that such a vessel could enhance the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s operational and logistical capabilities, particularly in low-threat environments.

Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, suggested that the vessel could serve as a helicopter or drone carrier for the China Coast Guard, which increasingly acts as a quasi-military force. This new capability would enhance the Coast Guard’s surveillance operations in distant waters, particularly in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.

China’s military presence around Taiwan has intensified, with recent large-scale drills demonstrating unprecedented involvement from Coast Guard vessels in the region. Schuster remarked that the new vessel could significantly support Coast Guard operations, especially in quarantine enforcement.

Beyond military applications, the vessel could also play a role in humanitarian efforts, facilitating rapid relief and evacuation in non-combat situations or serving as a logistics support ship in amphibious operations.

Additionally, in a display of its growing naval capabilities, the Liaoning and Shandong carriers recently conducted their first-ever dual-carrier exercise in the South China Sea. This operation, described by state-run Xinhua news service, involved coordinated movements of fighter jets and support ships, aiming to enhance the combat capabilities of China’s aircraft carrier formations.

Experts believe that the collaboration between the Liaoning and Shandong carriers demonstrates the PLA Navy’s increasing complexity and coordination, potentially enabling more sophisticated fleet operations in the future.

 

China’s Newest Nuclear Submarine Sank Earlier This Year, US Officials Confirm

/in /tarafından

China’s newest nuclear-powered submarine, the first of its Zhou-class line, sank pierside earlier this year, according to two US defense officials. The attack submarine, known for its distinctive X-shaped stern designed to enhance underwater maneuverability, was under construction at a shipyard near Wuhan. Although the Chinese Navy attempted to conceal the incident, satellite imagery captured by Maxar Technologies in March and reviewed later in June confirmed the submarine’s disappearance from its docking site.

The sinking marks a significant loss for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, which has prioritized the modernization of its fleet as part of China’s ambition to establish a military on par with that of the United States. A senior US defense official expressed little surprise at China’s efforts to hide the incident, noting that the PLA Navy would likely want to avoid publicizing the loss of its first-in-class nuclear-powered submarine.

Tom Shugart, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, who closely monitors Chinese shipyards through satellite imagery, first observed unusual activity at the location. Shugart noted a rare clustering of cranes at the shipyard—an anomaly compared to historical images of the area. Additionally, the submarine, easily recognizable by its large size and unique tail, had not returned to the pier by mid-year, raising further suspicions of the vessel’s fate.

Beijing’s naval ambitions are vast, with modernization of the PLA Navy’s submarine force being one of its highest priorities. According to a 2023 military power report, the PLA Navy currently operates a total of 60 submarines, including six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines. China aims to further expand this fleet to 80 submarines by 2035, despite retiring older models.

The loss of the Zhou-class submarine highlights potential oversight and accountability issues within China’s defense industry. Corruption has long plagued the country’s defense sector, and the incident could raise deeper concerns about internal management within the PLA.

The US, which has identified China as its primary long-term military competitor, operates a more extensive nuclear-powered submarine fleet, including 53 fast attack submarines, 14 ballistic-missile submarines, and four guided-missile submarines. The Chinese PLA Navy, however, remains the largest in the world by total ship count, with 370 platforms, including 234 warships, compared to the US Navy’s 219 warships.

It remains unclear whether the Zhou-class submarine had been fueled with nuclear material when it sank, adding another layer of mystery to the situation. Chinese embassy officials in Washington, D.C., offered no comment, stating they had no information on the incident.