China’s recently launched aircraft carrier the Liaoning appears to be “merely symbolic and nothing more,” a study published this week by the US Naval Institute says.
“Currently, the People’s Liberation Army [PLA] relies heavily on a complex of missiles, mines and submarines to keep the US or other external parties at arm’s length in the event of war over Taiwan or other islands,” the study says.
“It is hard to see how a Chinese carrier force of any feasible size would contribute to this task, given its presumed vulnerability to submarines,” the study by retired US Navy captain Robert Rubel says.
The study could be interpreted as providing strong support for Taiwan’s efforts to acquire new diesel submarines to deter a Chinese attack.
Equipped with only 30 jets, the Liaoning could not generate a “sufficient pulse of power” to knock out a major target with one big strike, and with its ski-jump launch system the range and amount of weapons carried by the jets was “too restrictive,” the study says.
“Depending on the nature of the air campaign, at least two aircraft carriers would be needed to maintain continuous coverage at even a minimum level,” Rubel says.
“In terms of Chinese naval aviation, credible combat power will not be achieved until the PLAN [PLA Navy] is able to dispatch at least two carriers on a single mission, and this may not be enough, depending on the defenses they encounter,” Rubel says.
Improved air defenses, coastal-defense cruise missiles, quiet diesel submarines, new types of mines and other systems are making it impossible for aircraft carriers to fight near their target — precisely where the Liaoning would be forced to operate.
“Antisubmarine warfare is not one of the PLAN’s strong suits, so combat credibility even against weak neighbors such as Vietnam, who is reportedly purchasing six Kilo-class submarines from Russia, is potentially compromised,” the study says.
It says that given the serious constraints on the Liaoning’s offensive and defensive capabilities, an attack would only work if the opponent either could not or would not oppose the carrier with diesel subs or other modern anti-access systems.
The credible combat power of Chinese naval aviation is thus compromised until Beijing develops a new class of carrier with catapults and until it significantly strengthens its antisubmarine warfare defenses, the study says.
“Simply put, in a war with the US, Chinese carrier aviation would likely be doomed,” it says.
“In limited wars with regional powers close to home, the carriers might provide some utility, especially covering amphibious or special-forces operations, again assuming that a significant diesel-submarine threat does not materialize,” the study says.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS