Chinese Officials Just Confirmed They're Building A Second Aircraft Carrier

BI ^ | 3-10-2015 | Jeremy Bender

[blam]

Jeremy Bender
March 10, 2015

Chinese officials have confirmed that the country is currently building a second aircraft carrier, according to a number of Chinese and Taiwanese media sources.

The former political commissar of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Liu Xioajiang told the Hong Kong Commercial Daily that a second aircraft carrier's construction is now in the hands of governmental agencies, according to news translations by Focus Taiwan.

Liu also hinted that Beijing's second carrier, which would be China's first indigenously produced carrier, was only the start of the nation's maritime ambitions.

(snip)

[blam]

China's first aircraft carrier, which was renovated from an old aircraft carrier that China bought from Ukraine in 1998, is seen docked at Dalian Port, in Dalian, Liaoning province September 22, 2012.

[gaijin]

Y not sell USS Ranger to Taiwan, then sell them F-35’s..?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Building an aircraft carrier and knowing how to use it are two entirely different things.

[DownInFlames]

Each carrier must have a surrounding battle group to protect it. Without one, they are sitting ducks.

[doc1019]

Question: Are we still building nuclear subs or are we relying on our aging fleet?

[2ndDivisionVet]

That new rail gun we’re installing on some ships will cut through it like a hot knife through butter.

[newnhdad]

why build one when you have two at twice the price?

[nickcarraway]

Hillary will be president soon. So they can get what they need.

[uglybiker]

Kinda bland lookin’ for a ‘floating casino’. Needs some more lights. :-P

[skeeter]

Its a lead pipe cinch the PLA has been giving generously to the Clinton Foundation for the past fifteen years for that very reason.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

PING!

[FreeInWV]

“Building an aircraft carrier and knowing how to use it are two entirely different things.”

Am sure carrier shakedown and training would have been something they discussed during negotiations of the gas deal with Russia. Probably airframes too.

[miliantnutcase]

Yes, Virginia class.

[doc1019]

Thanks, I couldn’t find anything definitive on the internet.

[Oztrich Boy]

[robowombat]

This is not meant as snark of wise mouthing but a legitimate inquiry to Freepers who have real experience in surface ops or who have seriously studied potential naval conflict scenarios. One constantly encounters remarks as to the lack of viability of the large deck aircraft carrier pitted against emerging precision strike and submarine technologies. The reasoning is , on the surface, convincing. The battleship reached the peak of its evolution in WW2 just as it was being relegated to a supporting role in surface operations by carrier and land based aviation So the aircraft carrier , it is argued, is becoming obsolete even as its capabilities reach unprecedented levels of lethality. What then do those who know far more than I say about the future role of the carrier and why if it is a waning weapon system are the Chinese expending a lot of resources to build an ever more capable and larger carrier air arm?

[nickcarraway]

Smart

[righttackle44]

Rats. I had read their first aircraft carrier was going to have a catamaran structure. I was wanting to see them try counter-flooding if it was bombed or torpedoed.

[Poison Pill]

Oh yeah, well we’re gonna have female SEALs soon. We’re gonna call’em Strikeforce Midol! So there!