China advancing military capability in sky and at sea

BEIJING—China may begin testing its first aircraft carrier within weeks and is developing more advanced satellites, adding to concerns about its expanding military clout amid disputes over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Beijing has ramped up defense spending over the past few years, replacing outdated equipment and unveiling a slew of cutting-edge technologies, including a prototype stealth fighter and powerful ballistic missiles.

Its first aircraft carrier, a retrofitted ship bought from Ukraine in 1998, is expected to be mainly used for training purposes, a state-run newspaper reported, but others are believed to be in the works.

The former Soviet carrier Varyag, once destined to become a floating casino, is now part of President Hu Jintao’s push to modernize the Chinese Navy.

Military and political sources have said Beijing could launch the carrier this year, as Beijing marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

Exploratory step

Such a launch would be a first, exploratory step toward an operational carrier fleet.

“The Varyag is expected to serve primarily as a training vessel for pilots and deck crews,” the English-language China Daily reported on Tuesday.

The carrier “will begin initial sea trials probably either late this month, in early August or later in the year,” the official newspaper added. “It is uncertain when the Varyag will be made operational and where it will be based.”

The newspaper also reported there were “rumors” that another aircraft carrier is being built in Shanghai, but it did not elaborate.

Chen Bingde, the chief of the People’s Liberation Army General Staff, told visiting Adm. Mike Mullen, the top US military official, that the Varyag was a “very valuable for us to research these things,” the China Daily said.

Analysts say that, in practical terms, it will probably take the Chinese Navy years to possess a credible carrier operation in Asia’s seas, which have largely been the domain of the US Navy since World War II.

The cost of building a medium-sized conventionally powered, 60,000-ton carrier similar to the Russian Kuznetsov class could exceed $2 billion. China is likely to acquire at least two carriers, sources say.

Modernization

The aircraft carrier will add to regional concerns about China’s military modernization and arms build-up.

In recent weeks, China has been flexing its muscles more aggressively in the West Philippine Sea, where a territorial dispute with Taiwan and several Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines, has festered for years.

China refers to the strategic body of water as the South China Sea, while Vietnam calls it the East Sea.

China is also working on a ballistic missile that could pose a serious threat to US aircraft carriers, which Washington could deploy to seas around Taiwan in the event of a crisis with the self-ruled island, which China claims as its own territory.

“The missile is still undergoing experimental testing and will be used as a defensive weapon when it is successfully developed, not an offensive one,” Chen was quoted as saying.

Use of such missiles would leverage China’s growing prowess in developing more advanced satellites, according to a report in October’s Journal of Strategic Studies, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

Satellites

These reconnaissance satellites would enable China to track hostile forces in real time and guide ballistic missiles, enabling Beijing to project power far beyond its shores.

“China’s constellation of satellites is transitioning from the limited ability to collect general strategic information, into a new era in which it will be able to support tactical operations as they happen,” the report said.

“China may already be able to match the United States’ ability to image a known, stationary target and will likely surpass it in the flurry of launches planned for the next two years.”

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei reiterated China’s stance that it is opposed to the militarization of space.

“We believe that space should only be used for peaceful purposes, and to benefit all of mankind,” Hong told a regular news briefing. Reuters