It is said to be “the largest aircraft carrier ever built outside the United States”: China could launch “Type 003” as early as this week.
Munich/Shanghai – At the beginning of the year, China announced that it intended to significantly increase spending on armaments despite low economic growth. Where all the billions are going can currently be seen in the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai – or on satellite images of it. It shows the third Chinese aircraft carrier, which is currently operating under the provisional designation “Type 003”. Like the one appearing in Hong Kong South China Morning Post now reported, the ship could be launched as early as this week. According to a military source, the newspaper said, it should be this Friday.
“The latest satellite images show that ‘Type 003’ was blocked by a huge ship segment to prevent passing merchant ships from seeing the construction progress,” said Lu Li-shih, a former lecturer at the Taiwan Naval Academy post. “This segment needs to be removed so they can launch the ‘Type 003’.” The launch, Lu said, means the dry dock work is complete. Tests could then be conducted and equipment installed. According to another military expert, however, it could be several years before the aircraft carrier is fully operational.
China already owns two aircraft carriers. The “Liaoning”, a Soviet-made ship, was put into service in 2012 after extensive conversion work; The “Shandong”, which entered service in 2019, was built entirely in China but is partly based on the “Liaoning”. With the aircraft carriers, China wants to expand its capabilities to carry out military operations far away from its own coasts. In addition, the ships are considered a figurehead of the country’s military power and should therefore also serve as a deterrent. Humanitarian missions are also possible, for example in the event of natural disasters.
China: New aircraft carrier “represents the maritime ambitions”
Many details about China’s new aircraft carrier are not known, and a final name has not yet been communicated. However, analyst Robert Farley said in 2019 that the ship would be “the largest aircraft carrier ever built outside the United States”. In a post for The Diplomat The military expert wrote: “This ship represents China’s maritime ambitions and says a lot about how important the maritime sector is to Beijing. The construction seems to clearly demonstrate that China is aiming for a long-range naval force with the capability for expeditionary and high-intensity warfare.”
While aircraft on China’s first two aircraft carriers are still launched via a kind of ramp, this is to be done on the new ship using a catapult that works with electromagnetic impulses. This should also allow larger and heavier aircraft to be used. Similar catapult systems mostly work with steam. According to analysts, if “Type 003” is actually equipped with the more advanced technology, this would be a sign that China’s military has made massive progress and is playing in a league with the USA in this area. Unlike the US ships of the Gerald R. Ford class, “Type 003” has a nuclear drive, but apparently not.
China: Launch of new aircraft carrier postponed because of Corona
The new aircraft carrier’s supposed launch on Friday would coincide with the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, one of the most important holidays in China. The ship was said to be launched as early as April 23, coinciding with the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. However, according to media reports, due to the corona pandemic, nothing came of it.
The new aircraft carrier is being launched at a time of rising tensions in the region. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is currently touring the South Pacific to forge new alliances – albeit with mixed success so far. The United States and Australia in particular are critical of Beijing’s ambitions in the region. Most recently, a security agreement concluded between China and the Solomon Islands caused a stir.
China: provocations towards Taiwan
Tensions in the Taiwan Strait are also increasing. China regards the democratically governed Taiwan as a renegade province and is threatening military conquest. In mid-March, China’s aircraft carrier “Shandong” passed through the straits between the People’s Republic and the island state, which observers took as a signal to the government in Taipei. Beijing, on the other hand, spoke of a routine training mission.
Chinese planes entered the country’s defense airspace on Monday, the Defense Ministry said in Taipei. 30 machines, including more than 20 fighter jets, were involved in the action. Most recently, 39 aircraft entered Taiwan’s defense airspace at the end of January.
According to armaments experts, aircraft carriers could play a decisive role in a possible invasion of Taiwan. US President Joe Biden recently said on the sidelines of his trip to South Korea and Japan that his country is committed to defending Taiwan. However, the White House subsequently qualified Bide’s statement and stated that the United States continued to support the One China policy. Accordingly, Washington does not recognize the government in Taiwan, but supports it with arms deliveries.
China: Fourth aircraft carrier is said to be in the works
In a keynote speech on his government’s China policy at the end of last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Beijing of increasing pressure on Taiwan. “Beijing has exhibited increasingly provocative rhetoric and activity, allowing PLA planes to fly near Taiwan on an almost daily basis,” Blinken said. “These words and actions are deeply destabilizing; they risk miscalculation and threaten peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Meanwhile, China is reportedly working on a fourth aircraft carrier. In February 2018, the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation said it had started development of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to help the Chinese Navy “realize its strategic transformation and combat readiness in deep water and open ocean by 2025.” . (sh)
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