Beijing 'to continue to use carrier capability for South China Sea operations'

[Zarvan]

China's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning. China is likely to maintain a carrier capability in the South China Sea to protect its interests once its second ship is are operational. Source: Press Association Images
Key Points

• China intends to use aircraft carriers for defence of its territories in the South China Sea, says academic
• Recent operations by the United States in the area have validated the need for an aircraft carrier there, he argues

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is likely deploy at least one aircraft carrier for permanent operations in the South China Sea once its second ship is fully operational, a Chinese academic told IHS Jane's on 28 January.

Professor Chu Shulong, who is currently the director of the Institute of International Strategic and Development Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, was speaking toIHS Jane's after giving a lecture on Chinese military modernisation and security strategy at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore. Chu is also a professor at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Party School.

"For the Northern Sea, Yellow Sea, and Eastern Sea, China does not need an aircraft carrier. Chinese land-based [aircraft] are capable of reaching places like the Diaoyu Islands", said Chu, in reference to the territories also claimed by Japan and known in Tokyo as the Senkaku Islands.

However, the same cannot be said of China's territories in the South China Sea, the professor argued. "Should the Americans send their [aircraft] and ships into the South China Sea, China currently does not have the [aerial] capacity to deal with such a challenge", said Chu; he added that it will take about an hour for Chinese fighter aircraft from the nearest airbase on Hainan Island to reach the southern regions of the South China Sea.

"These challenges [from the United States] will most likely take place very frequently in the future", said Chu. The US Navy (USN) Freedom of Navigation (FON) operations, notably the sailing of the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Lassen past Subi Reef in October 2015, has convinced Chinese military leaders that the deployment of an aircraft carrier in the South China Sea is necessary going forward, he continued.

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http://www.janes.com/article/57566/...ier-capability-for-south-china-sea-operations

 

[Ind4Ever]

Wonder how one can use aircraft carrier against jam packed enemies right next door?

India used carrier to attack Pakistan from a long distance. How this could be possible with China? It's like kids want to have fancy dress just to show off

 

[Deino]

To admit, I'm not sure, how reliable this report is. Even if surely not fully operational as a carrier the Liaoning is today not based or assigned to the SCS .... as such I would take this report with a huge "rock of salt".

 

[LowPost]

To admit, I'm not sure, how reliable this report is. Even if surely not fully operational as a carrier the Liaoning is today not based or assigned to the SCS .... as such I would take this report with a huge "rock of salt".

You've got a point. Jane's is widely known to be one of the best references for defence news around the world but its usefulness in informing the readers about China's military development is rather limited. One reason why Rick Joe, an expert PLA watcher like you, from Sino Defence Forum and PLA RealTalk classifies it as a mere tertiary source.

–Jane’s and other sites which report on defence matters, including Aviation Week, Flight Global, and USNI, Defence Updates, Defencetalk

Jane’s Defence has its heritage in the late 18th century All the World’s Fighting Ships, originally published by John F. T. Jane, and in the 20th and 21st century, it has been and continues to be considered one of the most reliable and up to date sources and references for global military matters.

However, the usefulness of Jane’s for Chinese military developments varies greatly, depending on the writer and subject matter at hand.

Jane’s is very useful for reporting on subjects which are resource intensive: for instance, its willlingness to pay for satellite intelligence means it is very useful for providing updates on certain large and visually imposing projects such as the 001A domestic carrier under construction at Dalian. Jane’s also fields a presence at many defence expos around the world, and inevitably are well placed for reporting on various Chinese weapons offered for export.

But on the other hand, Jane’s is far less useful than Primary and Secondary sources in detailing the latest Chinese military developments in a comprehensive way, and sometimes also presents only a fraction of the full information for a certain topic. Bias may also exist, depending on the author. Therefore, despite the usefulness of Jane’s in reporting on other global military developments, it is far less of a practical resource in reporting Chinese military developments.

This similarly applies for the other listed sites of a similar nature, which tend to focus on global or western military matters as their primary topic of interest rather than Chinese.

http://plarealtalk.com/2015/11/29/guide-to-pla-watching-part-ii-sources/

@Deino: Have you considered creating a thread about what sources not to use in this section?

 

[CAPRICORN-88]

To admit, I'm not sure, how reliable this report is. Even if surely not fully operational as a carrier the Liaoning is today not based or assigned to the SCS .... as such I would take this report with a huge "rock of salt".

Yes. You are right.

Why do China need to deploy her Aircraft Carrier when she already have a number unstinkable Aircraft Carriers in the SCS? Recent USA naval intrusions have given China every justifications to militarize those ACs in the SCS.

IMO Once it is done, China will have absolute air superiority over the airspace there. Who can challenge her then? Not ASEAN!

A blitzkrieg using Mach 4.5~5 anti-ship missiles based in those islands will destroy the most invincible enemy including USA Naval Fleet.

 

[siegecrossbow]

The South China Sea is an awful place to send your aircraft carriers.