It’s clear that China’s Navy is growing in size and quality. Not only does China have the largest navy in East Asia, it has an increasingly modern and capable force of imported and indigenously produced destroyers, frigates, missile patrol craft, and submarines. Beijing is even planning to deploy its own aircraft carriers, a development sure to alarm neighbors such as Japan, Vietnam, and India.
But what does it mean for American policy makers? Should the United States increase its own maritime power in response to Beijing’s growing strength? Are there diplomatic levers that Washington might pull to forestall potential Chinese aggression? Below, I explore these issues, first by giving a brief history of China’s evolving naval strategies since the People’s Republic began in 1949. (It’s critical that U.S. policy makers understand the evolution of China’s thinking about the roles and missions of its navy.) Then, I provide a full accounting of recent Chinese naval hardware developments. Finally, I draw policy recommendations designed to help American policy makers manage the challenges that have arisen as a result of China’s improving capabilities, regional assertiveness and expanding global interests.
In short, the U.S. will need to strengthen its ties to key countries in East Asia and develop strategic and tactical military concepts and capabilities that would allow it to counter China’s growing military power. Meanwhile, U.S. policy makers must seek collaboration with the Chinese military in an effort to highlight the benefits of being a global stakeholder to Beijing.
Tags: aircraft carriers, Bejing, China, destroyers, frigates, India, Japan, missile patrol craft, Naval Power, submarines, Vietnam
[...] On this subject, you can also read Michael Mandel’s memo about the China’s Growing Naval Power [...]
Let me make the things absolute clear, Chinese Navy is still a surface Navy. Chinese Naval Ships does not have Desalination Plants. China is still not in a position to do amphibious assault. In last three decades, China cannot even imagine in taking over small Island of Taiwan. I am yet to see any major advancement and achievement of Chinese Navy. Chinese Navy does not have a Long range Punch. China buys most of the Air force Planes- Sukhois, Battle Ships and Anti Ship Missiles from Russia. China buys most of the Modern equipment from Russia and Russia is not a dumb country to give all the latest technology. China has the largest Air Force in the world and not a handful is working and please refers to Rand Corporation on Chinese Air Force. With all its mightiness, China lost the Vietnam War in 1979. China had more casualties and lost more equipment than Vietnam. . Most of the Chinese in general and Chinese Government in particular under estimated Vietnam and ended up in losing the China Vietnam War. At least Americans have stomach to accept that USA lost the war. Only Chinese say they won China-Vietnam War. If anybody does little bit research, you will find PLAN, which is Chinese Navy is far inferior to Indian Navy and Japanese Navy. China with all its mightiness is still considered as model Totalitarian and Dictator Country for all the failed nations, Rogue Nations and Disintegrating Nations, such as, Sudan, Pakistan, North Korea and Iran. Soon Somalia will become major Chinese all weather friends. China can advance it cause by giving nuclear technology to Failed Nations. The entire world Terrorists in general and Terrorists from Pakistan in particular uses Chinese make Machine Guns and Chinese Made Grenades. In short, China is more of nuisance and menace to the Civilized and Democratic Countries. China is determined to destroy all the democratic countries, such as, USA, Western Countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea and India. They are mollycoddling all the rogue nations to destroy the Democratic countries. Chinese Company Norrinco is the major benefactor in supplying Grenades to various Terrorist organizations.
[...] Chase, “China’s Growing Naval Power,” The Progressive Fix, 14 December 2010. (Part 1 of [...]
[...] China’s Growing Naval Power — Progressive Fix [...]
@Dakshah
Apparently, your knowledge on China Military is like “A Frog stuck in a Well”
Before you uttered such comments, I wonder you have keep abreast to current China Military Modernisation and comments made by your Own Indian Defence chief and US Naval Intelligence on China Threat.
You think China still depend on Russia to supply the latest weapons ?
Did you realise that over the last few years, China had hardly purchased any new weapons from Russia ? Do you know why ?
You are using Indian mentality to judge the Chinese !
You are absolutely ignorant about China strength and weaknesses on her Military Force. For a start, you are wrong to say that China has the largest Air Force in the World and you don’t have to distort about the outcome of the 1979 Sino Vietnam War because the Chinese incursion into Vietnam is the same as repeating what they did to India in 1962 Border War.
Since you have quoted Rand Corp, you should read up what Rand Corp had predicted in the Year 2020, when China decided to retake Taiwan by Force and the ultimate results of military conflict between China and US Navy at the East China Sea.
@Dakshah
In case you are lazy to read the out come of what Rand Corp had made out on the War Simulation fought between China and US military in 2020 at the East China Sea; the answer is China prevailed !
Actually, I find it hard to believe. However, on hind sight, A classic military lesson is that
technological Superiority does not always confer winning a War.
Just like the Korean and Vietnam War when US Forces were beaten by poorly armed Chinese Forces in North Korea and Vietnam.