The PLAN Type 022 Sourced From Australia

Apparently, in Australia you can help the PLAN build warships.

An Australian company is working directly with the Chinese navy to develop catamarans capable of firing missiles, an international policy institute says.

The company, AMD Marine Consulting, is a naval architectural and marine engineering consulting firm based in Sydney, which develops catamaran designs for ferries, utility vessels and patrol boats.

According to the Lowy Institute for International Policy, AMD has set up a joint venture called Sea Bus International with a Chinese company - GUMECO - working directly with the People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN).

PLAN has selected a military boat designed on the AMD 350 catamaran which is "markedly like" a new generation of missile-armed catamarans - Type 022 - being built for its navy, the institute's blog site The Interpreter said.

The articles goes on to say no laws have been broken as part of the Joint Venture.

"But China's admirals, recognising that these hulls allow for speeds of up to 36 knots and a more stable platform for firing weapons, came calling," The Interpreter said.

"They were not turned away and Type 022s are now being turned out regularly, with possibly 30 of them built so far."

The article goes on to discuss the potential of a Taiwan naval war scenario, where Australia would potentially side with the US against China, but would have helped China build the Type 022 which is specifically designed to sink ships.

I would note that if China and the US ever go to war over Taiwan, if China shoots down even a single Satellite the US would use, it would be a Satellite that Australia uses, as one aspect of US Pacific strategy has been to tie together the communication networks of Australia and the US. In other words, such an attack against a Satellite would be an attack against Australia.

In general though, I can't find fault with the Chinese. While the Type 022 doesn't fit very well in any aspect of US strategy, from a regional maritime defense perspective of China it is one of their best platforms. It is basically the Chinese streetfighter, except instead of a powerpoint, they have built 30 and are expected to build at least a couple dozen more.