Recent comments on PLAN Carrier

Recently, a Chinese Major General surprised much of the media with his comments Chinese carrier program. Of course by now, we all know that China is building one. The fact that it is no longer actively denying it simply shows that there is no more debate within PLA on whether or not this project will go ahead. We've also seen the model of JN shipyard building a carrier and news about training 50 naval pilots.

There are different ways to react to this. Richard Fisher, one of the well known China threat advocate, said that

"China has waged an at times sophisticated and at times facile campaign of disinformation surrounding its aircraft carrier program. The [People's Liberation Army] will seek to couch their missions in defensive terminology, However, the usual approach ... is to assess the capability of the platform, its electronics and weapons, and then assume they will be used to the maximum envelope of those capabilities for any range of offensive and defensive missions."

Of course, that has been the long discussion, why does China really need aircraft carrier?

I think a lot of what General Qian said in the interview are logical. As the next great power in the world and also a member of the permanent 5, it is actually strange that China doesn't already have a carrier when countries like Thailand and Brazil have one. China seems to do a lot of things for national pride and honour, having one of more aircraft carriers certainly would provide a lot of that.

The other question is what is whether the aircraft carrier is offensive or defensive in nature. I think that any future carriers would be mostly used for the Taiwan scenario and also for protection of China's energy route. It's true that USN is already protecting this route, but China really trust in US, the country that regards it as the most likely enemy? Would US trust China guarding its sea lanes? The other thing is that China's priority may change in the next 20 years. By 2020, China may wish to have a much more pro-active defensive posture. If they don't start building a carrier now, they won't be prepared for that likelihood. So generally speaking, I find it very hypocritical of US to question China's intent for having a carrier. And I think General Qian is voicing the opinion of many mystified Chinese people about why some people in a country with 11 carriers asks the intention for a country without even one.