Posted on 12/06/2006 2:04:06 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
China could have its first aircraft carrier battle group composed of 11 warships in place by 2020, a high-ranking official from the Ministry of National Defense told a recent symposium hosted by the Institute for Taiwan Defense and Strategic Studies to discuss the purchase of diesel-electric submarines. His remark is probably an understatement and the ministry has seriously underestimated China's capability to develop and deploy submarines.
The ministry estimated that China will have two Type 093 nuclear-powered attack submarines in this planned aircraft carrier battle group. Named the "Shang-class" by NATO, Type 093 is a refined model of the Russian Victor-III class and an engineering project complementary to the construction of China's Type 094 Jin-class nuclear-powered guided ballistic missile submarines. Deploying two nuclear-powered attack submarines in a middle-sized aircraft carrier battle group is adequate.
Over the past decade, China's submarine technology has made huge progress. In addition to its highly developed Type 093, Bei-jing may have more advanced nuclear-powered attack submarines, possibly Type 095, by 2020.
International media reports indicate that China may have completed the design of Type 095 and initiated the first phase of construction. Some believe the hull of Type 095 has been given a Western rather than a Russian design and that the underwater noise level of the engines has been reduced.
The Type 095 may also dopt the sophisticated HY-4 cruise missile with a range of 3,000km. If this type of missile carries a nuclear warhead, it can destroy up to 2km2 of any targeted area.
China is planning to build five Type 095 submarines. If the Type 095 can join its aircraft carrier battle group by 2020, its overall combat capabilities will easily exceed those of Type 093.
The ministry's projection of the make-up of China's aircraft carrier battle group also ignores the great technological progress China has made in building diesel-electric submarines in recent years. After Russia delivered the second batch of eight Russian Kilo-class Type 636 attack submarines to Beijing, China's diesel-electric submarine technology has improved considerably through imitation or technology transfer.
According to a foreign news report, China's Ming-class submarines have begun testing the installation of an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system that operates on liquid oxyhydrogen cells. Moreover, China's navy continues to improve its Type 039 Song-class submarine, which was recently found stalking the USS Kitty Hawk near Okinawa.
In future, all Song-class submarines are likely to be equipped with the AIP system and China will take the initiative to acquire new weapons systems from Russia, including supersonic anti-ship missiles, land-attack cruise missiles, wake-homing torpedoes and supercavitating torpedoes.
Prior to 2020 then, China's fleet of diesel-electric submarines will have become an underwater threat that nations in the Asia-Pacific region cannot ignore. That would constitute a structural change to the the strategic security of both the Taiwan Strait and the first island chain. Such a strategic alteration would put tremendous pressure on Taiwan.
Taiwan's defense capabilities will be unable to deal with these changes single-handedly and the nation cannot simply pin its hopes on the acquisition of a few diesel-electric submarines.
As the most vulnerable and strategically most important link in the first island chain, Taiwan should seek to improve its defense capabilities and strengthen military cooperation with both the US and Japan to deter China's expansionist ambitions.
Is the Islamo Facist any threat to the Chinese?
bump
How many miles-per-wok?
Have people forgotten Beslan so soon?
They have some muslim minorities [Uighurs, I believe], but on periphery.
They did track down and kill some Chechens, however, how many Russians troops in Iraq? Russia considers Iran a friend. Enough said.
FYI
Or perhaps both of those nations (especially China) aren't strapped with a crybaby media and traitorous yet popular left that sides with the Islamists every time those nations strike back. Knowing that, the Islamists aren't so quick to anger an enemy that won't be restrained in its response.
Japan better step it up. A Korea / Taiwan / Japan alliance would have some benefit, but I bet both countries hesitate to create something formal with the "breakaway province".
Thank you Hillary, Thank you Bill. Thank you all.
Weren't you forecasting this?
Thank you Hillary, Thank you Bill. Thank you all.
China has been able to lob nukes most anywhere in the Western Hemisphere with impunity since 1981.
A bit hard to blame that on someone that was Governor of Arkansas at the time.
I guess the Commies have something the US doesn't, no regard for human life. These Jihadist aren't stupid and know even if they end up in the Gitmo, it's not as harsh as what China would do. eg. non stop torture, non stop beating, charging your family for the bullet and if they don't pay, they will be locked up. etc. Heck, I bet China would be crazy enough to wipe out a whole race because they tried to f- with them. Plus, we'd just let it happen anyways.
The United States and the rest of the west is more of a threat to the Islamic way of life than a failed communist nation and a quickly developing nation. We are a bigger influence on the rest of the world than either of these two. When they are able to get rid of our way of life, than they can take out the others.
Actually...not. It has been only since the late 90s and early 2000s that their staging technology and accuracy were sufficient to reliably (and therefore with impunity) launch their land based missiles at us ianywhere in this hemisphere. Those increases can be directly tied to technology exchanges, transfers, and theft of the 90s due in some large part to the policies of the Clinton administration, particularly on trade.
With their subs...they are still not there...though they are rapidly getting there. Based on their newer long range missiles and newer (launched recently) SSBN class, they can sit in their home waters and hit us with those too. If they venture out to sea, they are still not quiet enough to avoid being tagged by one of our attack boats who can and would sink them with impunity if they appeared to be on the verge of launching.
That is why they are also developing much better attack subs to counter our own. Their new SSK AIP diesel/electrics and newer SSNs are putting them in a position to do so. Thanks to sales from Russia and, once again from their acquisition of our own technology through various means.
Fact is, the Clinton administration, although they certainly cannot be blamed for all of China's rise, certainly did us great harm in that regard. But, plenty led up to those years, and plenty more has continued to go on since they left office
"Or perhaps both of those nations (especially China) aren't strapped with a crybaby media and traitorous yet popular left that sides with the Islamists every time those nations strike back."
I think the main reason Islam radicals have not attacked China is they know they will be hunted down and killed immediately and unmercifully-including all relatives. China won't put up with the crap we do because of liberals in this country and the muslims know it.
Meanwhile we cowtow to the radical muslims and don't want to hurt their feeling..through PC crap.
Bigtime. The ChiComs are not having children nearly as fast as the Islamists.
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