China to Build Supercarrier, Taiwan unveils upgraded IDF

A Korean newspaper is reporting that the Chinese are planning a 93,000 ton supercarrier, according to the widely read blog The Marmot's Hole.

According to the documents, the nuclear carrier—to be completed by 2020—is to be tasked to China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation’s Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard [Global Security.org], which is capable of building oil tankers of 300,000 tons. The documents apparently mention that the planned carrier should be the size of the Ul’yanovsk [FAS], the planned Soviet nuclear carrier that was never completed.

If China completes the carrier, it would give the Chinese Navy a carrier approaching the size of the U.S. Nimitz class [Global Security.org], which is roughly 97,000 tons in displacement.

The documents say the conventionally powered Project 085 is a transitional project to the nuclear-powered Project 089. The mid-sized conventional carrier, to be completed by 2010, would displace 48,000 tons standard and 64,000 tons fully loaded. It will be able to hold 30-40 Jian-10 fighters [Global Security.org], which China began deploying last December. China is currently developing a naval version of the Jian-10; prior to development, China plans to decorate the ship with a compliment of 10-20 Russian-made Su-33s [Global Security.org].

The conventional carrier will be a modified version of the Soviet-built Varyag [Varyag World.com], which the Chinese have been playing with at China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation’s Dalian Shipyard [Global Security.org] since the Ukrainians sold it to them. Dalian Shipyard will be designing and building the conventional carrier. After Project 085 has been completed, the hull of the Varyag will be used for carrier landing exercises.

China’s carrier plans are in-line with comments made by the head of China’s National Defense Science, Technology, and Industry Commission, Zhang Yunchuan, who told reporters on March 16 that if things went smoothly, China could complete its indigenously built carrier by 2010.

The article came just after the new US Pacific Fleet Commander observed that China is far behind the United States in its naval abilities.

China is far from catching up to the United States as a military power, and the Pentagon will conduct exercises with the Chinese to gauge their intentions, tactics and strategy, the U.S. admiral set to take command of U.S. operations in the Pacific said March 22.

“While they may achieve improved combat effectiveness in certain limited areas, their overall near-peer status I think is a long way away,” said Adm. Timothy Keating, who takes command of the U.S. Pacific Command next week.

“We’re watching carefully. We’ll work with them to the extent that is appropriate so as to be able to evaluate their military strategy and doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures, and stay ahead of them,” Keating told reporters.

Keating was given the new post after the former Pacific Fleet commander, Adm. Fallon, was transferred to the Middle East. The Chinese plans may well be vapor, but what's interesting is the perception that they have to have carriers to compete with the US.

Meanwhile yesterday President Chen Shui-bian unveiled the upgraded IDF fighter.

Hundreds of guests and engineers from the government-owned aircraft maker Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) applauded as the fighter looped and banked to show off its maneuvering capability.

"The success is not only the latest achievement of our defense industry, but it also demonstrates Taiwan’s determination and efforts to defend ourselves," Chen said at the end of the new fighter’s 10-minute test flight.

Chen named the new jet "Hsung Ying," or Goshawk, an indigenous bird renowned for the speed of its attacks on prey.

The AIDC unveiled the prototype of an upgraded single-seated upgrade late last year.

Costing the military 7 billion Taiwan dollars (US$212.1 million) in a project launched in 2001, the Goshawk had increased its endurance time with the installation of two additional fuel tanks, the AIDC said.

Note how Chen emphasized the willingness of Taiwan to defend itself, a signal to both China and the US. Taiwan's large defense industry is evidence of the island's willingness to defend itself. It is only the pro-China parties that are fighting the weapons appropriation from the US. And we all know who they are working for.

[Taiwan] [US] [China]