China needs 'three aircraft carriers': General

[Lankan Ranger]

China needs 'three aircraft carriers': General

China needs at least three aircraft carriers to defend its interests, a general said, days after the state media broadcast footage of its first carrier in a rare public mention of the project.

"If we consider our neighbours, India will have three aircraft carriers by 2014 and Japan will have three carriers by 2014," General Luo Yuan, a senior researcher with the Academy of Military Sciences, was quoted as saying by Beijing News.

"So I think the number (for China) should not be less than three so we can defend our rights and our maritime interests effectively."

His comments, published Friday, came after China sought to downplay the capability of its first aircraft carrier, saying on Wednesday the vessel would be used for training and "research".

Beijing believes that the three Japanese carriers it referred to, built for helicopter operations, could eventually be converted into full aircraft carriers.

China recently confirmed it was revamping an old Soviet ship to be its first carrier, a project that has added to regional worries over the country's fast military expansion and growing assertiveness on territorial issues.

"We are currently re-fitting the body of an old aircraft carrier, and will use it for scientific research, experiments and training," defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told a news briefing.

Asked whether the carrier's addition to China's military arsenal would significantly raise the country's military capability, Geng said only that to "overrate or underrate the carrier's role are both incorrect".

The United States on Friday welcomed China's mention of the carrier, calling it a step toward better transparency between the Pacific powers.

China's People's Liberation Army -- the largest armed force in the world -- is extremely secretive about its defence programmes, which benefit from a huge and expanding military budget boosted by the nation's runaway economic growth.

The PLA also operates the country's navy.

AFP: China needs 'three aircraft carriers': general

 

[Oldman1]

Not enough. Need at least six.

 

[RockyX]

Only 3 ??? Need at least 6-7 by 2020......Even India will have 3 ACC by 2013-14 only and 2 More bigger IACC will be inducted in next 10-12 years. (INS Vishal already confirmed)

China have much more threat than India in Ocean region. (Indeed, India don't have any threat in Indian ocean as of Now - We are expecting there could be some threat after 7-10 years. So We working as per)

 

[aimarraul]

Only 3 ??? Need at least 6-7 by 2020......Even India will have 3 ACC by 2013-14 only and 2 More bigger IACC will be inducted in next 10-12 years. (INS Vishal already confirmed)

China have much more threat than India in Ocean region. (Indeed, India don't have any threat in Indian ocean as of Now - We are expecting there could be some threat after 7-10 years. So We working as per)

China is not as rich as India,we are very confident to handle "much more threat" with only 3AC,i personly oppose china having more than 3 unless our economic surpass U.S's ,

 

[RockyX]

China is not as rich as India,we are very confident to handle "much more threat" with only 3AC,i personly oppose china having more than 3 unless our economic surpass U.S's ,

No dude, China is economically ahead than India. Don't be sarcastic. We will also have 3 Only as it's expensive affair and 3 is enough for us as per geographical threat. But 3 would be less considering long sea border with China.

 

[milvipes]

3 sounds reasonable: one stationed near trouble spots, one undergoing training, and one under refit. So you can always have at least one combat-ready.

 

[nomi007]

Chinese are smart they are not wasting money like Indians
their basic object is economical growth

 

[Markus]

Chinese are smart they are not wasting money like Indians
their basic object is economical growth

Can you explain as to how building 3 aircraft carriers is equal to economic growth ?

Can you please comment as to how Indians are wasting money ?

 

[RockyX]

Chinese are smart they are not wasting money like Indians
their basic object is economical growth

How is it waste of Money ??? Only 15 billion $ for 3 ACC with ACF. Not a Big deal with 1.7 trillion $ economy and growing with 8%-10%.

Our Defence budget is only around 2% of GDP. Indeed, Pakistan wasting money with 2% growth and double digit inflation still Defence Budget was close to 3%.

 

[Jihad]

How is it waste of Money ??? Only 15 billion $ for 3 ACC with ACF. Not a Big deal with 1.7 trillion $ economy and growing with 8%-10%.

Our Defence budget is only around 2% of GDP. Indeed, Pakistan wasting money with 2% growth and double digit inflation still Defence Budget was close to 3%.

Why do you have drag Pakistan into this subject. You think you're better then us by saying that we're wasting money and India is supposedly not?
What's your point? Your self-obsessed approach and ego-centric attitude is something unjustified.

Because if you look in the mirror, you're nothing special..

 

[RockyX]

Why do you have drag Pakistan into this subject. You think you're better then us by saying that we're wasting money and India is supposedly not?
What's your point? Your self-obsessed approach and ego-centric attitude is something unjustified.

Because if you look in the mirror, you're nothing special..

Check who drag India without any Logic. Read few post above. It was reply only accordingly.

And yes, we are not wasting any money until defence budget is only around 2%.

 

[lmjiao]

Not enough. Need at least six.

Really not enough.
But six is also not enough, since US have 11.

 

[milvipes]

Three is the bare minimum, 4~6 (depending on the size of the carrier) is the ideal balance between capability and budget.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Really not enough.
But six is also not enough, since US have 11.

THEY HAVE 11 BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE INTEREST RATHER THAN PROTECTING THERE COAST LINE

 

[milvipes]

China needs to watch its global interest too: if some Angolan tribal chieftain seizes power and stop selling oil to anyone who isn't cannibal, Beijing would face a long, cold winter.
OK, maybe an exageration, but China is increasingly dependent on imported (especially African) oil, and the region is well known for its volatility. China needs a mean to intervene effectively.