How many fully functional aircraft carriers do they have?
Uh, yeah. Point.
Now China. Aren't they lacking also? Which is weird considering how aggressive Japan's navy once was at that sort of thing. You'd think China would have been more into it 50 years ago. So why is that that Russia thinks they can make their mark now, even with China's or NK's help?
Uh, yeah. Point.
Now China. Aren't they lacking also? Which is weird considering how aggressive Japan's navy once was at that sort of thing. You'd think China would have been more into it 50 years ago. So why is that that Russia thinks they can make their mark now, even with China's or NK's help?
China has, depending on how one measures it, a multiple of something like 100 to 200 times more shipbuilding capacity than the US - although most of that is devoted to merchant fleet. Even while mostly focused on merchant ships, China has already surpassed the US Navy in total number of naval ships, and the gap is rapidly growing. They could easily build Russia a new fleet - including air craft carriers - but only if Russia actually had the funds to pay for it!They are making way more progress than the Russians. Remains to be seen how it all turns out though.
The other advantage China has is that the fight is going to be happening at their doorsteps. The US needs to sail half away across the world, though there are the Asian bases. The US has way more allies in the region though. I don't see the Russian or NK fleets coming to the aid of China.China has, depending on how one measures it, a multiple of something like 100 to 200 times more shipbuilding capacity than the US - although most of that is devoted to merchant fleet. Even while mostly focused on merchant ships, China has already surpassed the US Navy in total number of naval ships, and the gap is rapidly growing. They could easily build Russia a new fleet - including air craft carriers - but only if Russia actually had the funds to pay for it!
While no one assumes the Chinese fleet matches the US in technology or experience, they are closing the gap rapidly, and quantity has a significant quality all of its own. I am confident they have already acquired most of the US Navy and Air Force technical designs (at least through the prior generation) and they certainly have obtained fully up to date training and tactical doctrines direct from the source to help them rapidly catch up.
View attachment 101999
US Navy is top dashed line, Chinese fleet is the build up on area plot.
Unpacking China’s Naval Buildup
Already the world's largest navy, the People's Liberation Army Navy is positioned to overtake the U.S. Navy in several indicators of naval power within ten years.www.csis.org
The other advantage China has is that the fight is going to be happening at their doorsteps. The US needs to sail half away across the world, though there are the Asian bases. The US has way more allies in the region though. I don't see the Russian or NK fleets coming to the aid of China.
Zero since the Kuznetsov lost its last battle to a dry dock crane.
How many fully functional aircraft carriers do they have?
Japan brings a powerful fleet as a close ally of the US.
This. The US is no longer the superpower it once was. It is no longer a uni-polar world. The US may be a falling star, but China's wolf warrior diplomacy made it a lonely star. The USA has friends now, powerful friends, friends who we are just now realizing how powerful they have become.Japan brings a powerful fleet as a close ally of the US.
It would be interesting to find out how much of China’s new vaunted military potential is ‘real’ (not that it’s even remotely worth ‘finding out’)A conventional confrontation with China in the South China Sea won't be pretty, but it also doesn't worry me all that much. Largely because China has almost zero experience going up against anything more than unarmed civilians.
The only advantage they'd have is geographic.
It would be interesting to find out how much of China’s new vaunted military potential is ‘real’ (not that it’s even remotely worth ‘finding out’)
After all Russia’s army was considered a near peer of the US until 2022 and that turned out to be…uhm…optimistic on Russia’s part.
One thing we haven't seen a lot of is reports of PLAN ships broken down in the middle of the ocean or having to have escort tugs in case they break down everytime they leave port. But I do wonder if China is going to spend more testing it's weapons to make sure they perform as expected. They aren't stupid and what's happened to Russia should be a wake-up call.It would be interesting to find out how much of China’s new vaunted military potential is ‘real’ (not that it’s even remotely worth ‘finding out’)
After all Russia’s army was considered a near peer of the US until 2022 and that turned out to be…uhm…optimistic on Russia’s part.
It would be interesting to find out how much of China’s new vaunted military potential is ‘real’ (not that it’s even remotely worth ‘finding out’)
After all Russia’s army was considered a near peer of the US until 2022 and that turned out to be…uhm…optimistic on Russia’s part.
This. The US is no longer the superpower it once was. It is no longer a uni-polar world. The US may be a falling star, but China's wolf warrior diplomacy made it a lonely star. The USA has friends now, powerful friends, friends who we are just now realizing how powerful they have become.
Japan, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines*.
*ignore the rhetoric and look at the basing map
China's navy will have to contend with shooting it out with multiple foes. Air, land, and sea simultaneously. China's supply lines are exposed. It needs to import coal, oil, food, etc. To secure them China will have break out past the first island chain, pushing back South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and the US.