The Chinese aircraft carrier was criticized by experts as being useless, and the effect of publicity was greater than the actual threat.

The picture shows the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong appearing in the Pacific waters south of Okinawa, Japan on April 10.

(Reuters)

It may be more than 10 years before it becomes a credible threat

[Compile Zhang Peiyuan/Comprehensive Report] Four military attaches stationed abroad and six defense analysts believe that although the United States and its allies are concerned about Beijing's commitment to military modernization, with a strong missile force and advanced warships, China's aircraft carrier is still in training mode. It may be more than a decade before it becomes an offshore threat.

Model publicity show is greater than real threat

Reuters said in this report that the Chinese ship's show is more meaningful than a real threat, even though one of the two Chinese ships, the Shandong, flaunted its might on the east coast of Taiwan last month, it was still boasted by its official media as a combat readiness patrol. military challenge to the United States, but military attaches and analysts believe that the Chinese aircraft carrier, which is actually still in training mode, may be nothing more than model propaganda, and question its value in confronting the US military in a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, as well as its long-range missions deep into the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Self-preservation ability during missions.

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Vulnerable to attack, so far there is no perfect cover

For example, night and bad weather landings of carrier-based aircraft, which are critical to offshore operations, have so far been far from routine for Chinese ships, which are also vulnerable to missiles and submarines in conflict, experts say. The Communist Army has so far failed to perfect cover operations, especially anti-submarine warfare.

Hollingsby, a former British naval intelligence analyst, said that unlike the military modernization of other parts of the PLA, China's aircraft deployment has so far been a political show; There is a long way to go."

Several unnamed military attaches pointed out that the pilots of Chinese carrier-based aircraft sometimes rely on land-based airports to take off and land, providing additional air cover and reconnaissance; Riyo Monma, a professor at Takushoku University in Japan who is familiar with Taiwan Strait security issues, also said that the two Chinese aircraft carriers Although the Liaoning and the Shandong have sailed into the Western Pacific and approached the US military base on Guam in recent months, they have not exceeded the scope of takeoff and landing at the China Coastal Airport.

Due to the use of ski jumps to take off, the number and range of carrier-based aircraft are limited. Although they are equipped with anti-ship helicopters, they have not yet deployed early warning aircraft.

Fujian is just another test bed

As for the new ship Fujian, which is expected to enter service next year, it will be equipped with advanced electromagnetic catapults to eject carrier-based aircraft. However, Xu Ruilin, a researcher at the Rajaratnam Institute of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, believes that although the Fujian has more modern capabilities, it will not be used in the future. Years will remain just another test bed.

China's aircraft plan reflects the CCP's goal of building a world-class military by 2049. An unnamed military attache said that one of the indicators of China's ambitions is whether the Chinese aircraft after the Fujian will be like the United States. Airships generally adopt nuclear power in order to sail around the world.

In addition, one of the keys to the operation of the ship is to master the decentralized command system, especially in the event of a crisis such as a fire breaking out on the ship or a fighter plane crashing on the deck and unable to take off and land.

Neil, a Singapore-based defense analyst at the Hawaii-based think tank Pacific Forum, said that the U.S. military has long-term experience in operating aircraft carriers, which is the core of the U.S. military's ability to maintain its absolute advantage.