Chinese aircraft carrier brings US out in spots
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Han Xudong |
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David Finkelstein |
Editor's Note: China's aircraft carrier plan seems to have added new ammunition to the West's "China threat" theory. The West remains entrenched in the old maritime theory that those who control the oceans control the world. But given China's security environment, aircraft carriers are a natural choice. Global Times (GT) reporters Chen Chenchen and Liu Linlin talked to Han Xudong (Han), senior colonel and professor with the PLA National Defense University, and David Finkelstein (Fin-kelstein), vice president of the Center of Naval Analysis (CNA) and director of CNA China Studies, on this topic.
GT: Several of China's key shipbuilding indexes ranked first in the world in 2010. Is the rapid growth of the nation's shipbuilding industry the reason for speculation overseas about China's development of aircraft carriers?
Han: I don't think so. Technologies develop in a gradual, progressive manner; abrupt leaps are rare. I don't think external speculation has much to do with development opportunities in China's shipbuilding industry.
In my view, there are mainly three reasons for external concerns about China's growing military strength.
First, as the US shifts its strategic focus to Asia, China faces increasing pres-sure from this global leader.
In this context, any move that China makes to achieve a balance of regional military strength will draw a lot of attention.
Second, aircraft carriers play a pivotal role in the US theory of multidirectional (land, sea and air) warfare. China cannot rely merely on its military strength on land or in the air. It needs a bigger repertoire.
Third, the US took advantage of the recent crisis on the Korean Peninsula to deploy three aircraft carriers to the west Pacific Ocean.
The US used the crisis to promote the triangular relationship between itself, South Korea and Japan. It pulled in some ASEAN nations too.
The deployment of the aircraft carriers was ostensibly aimed at checking North Korea. In reality it was intended to exert pressure on China.
I think China will work hard to develop its aircraft carrier. But this doesn't mean China will rush ahead, nor that it will delay.
Aircraft carriers are strategic weapons and their relevance depends on the international environment facing China in the future.
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