DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: How China Is Advancing Its Military Reach

DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: How China Is Advancing Its Military Reach
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources BBC News
 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 19, 2012: As the US shifts its focus to Asia, Alexander Neill, head of the Asia Security Programme at the Royal United Services Institute, sets out the Chinese military advances challenging the regional balance.

At the Pentagon recently, US President Barack Obama announced deep cuts to the US military and set out a shift in attention towards the Asia-Pacific region, in a thinly-veiled message to China.

Despite a narrative of peaceful intent, China's leaders have struggled to reassure the US over the direction of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Both countries admit that their military dialogue falls well behind other aspects of the relationship.

So the shift has brought renewed scrutiny of the PLA's latest capabilities against US dominance in the Pacific.

In recent years the PLA has demonstrated impressive new capabilities at sea and in space, aimed at showcasing the success of its modernisation effort.

The obvious message is to deliver a powerful warning if Taiwan were to declare formal independence.

But Pentagon planners are now concerned that the Taiwan contingency has been eclipsed by China's broader maritime territorial claims and demands for more international space to protect the arteries feeding China's growth.

'Unrestricted warfare'

China is developing a range of capabilities linked to the space and cyber domain in order to sidestep the overwhelming might of the US military in the Pacific region. The PLA calls this fighting "local wars under informationised conditions".

China took the first step towards a space station when it launched the Tiangong 1 module

China recognised almost two decades ago that in the mid-term the PLA could be no match for US conventional forces. So it began working on what was dubbed "unrestricted warfare" - combining multiple methods to defeat a superior opponent.

At the same time party leaders launched adventurous civilian acquisition projects in the high-tech domain to increase Chinese competitiveness and to boost indigenous production capabilities.

The PLA has been running military projects mirroring these civilian acquisition ventures. Sometimes involving dual-use technologies, the military and civilian strands have often been indistinguishable.

China's space programme is a case in point. The recent successful docking manoeuvre between a Shenzhou module and the Tiangong Space station is as much a triumph for the PLA as it is for China's civilian space agency.

Space theatre

Should the US ever intervene in a cross-strait clash or challenge China's maritime claims, Beijing would employ a pre-emptive "sea denial" strategy alongside its conventional operations - preventing US battle carrier groups operating in or near its claimed territorial waters.

Its submarine-launched ballistic and cruise missiles are now a lethal force. China's long-range nuclear weapons systems have also undergone significant upgrades and its strategic rocket force, the Second Artillery Corps, is very much the pride of the PLA.

One of the most pressing concerns for the US navy is the threat posed by a "carrier killer" anti-ship missile with enhanced targeting capabilities facilitated from space. China very recently launched its own Beidou Positioning System, challenging the monopoly of the US Global Positioning System (GPS).

One of the PLA's most sensitive advances has been the secret deployment and testing of advanced anti-satellite (ASAT) and Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) weapons systems.

Two years ago, China successfully intercepted one of its own ballistic missiles as it streaked through space. This test coincided with the Pentagon's sale of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Patriot systems to Taiwan.

Some experts believe a Chinese ASAT campaign against a careful selected group of US satellites could have catastrophic effect on the US military.

This capability, combined with the potential for China to develop its own Ballistic Missile Defence umbrella, suggests that the space domain will be a new theatre for US-China rivalry.

Chinese ASAT capabilities are not exclusively reserved for "kill vehicles", like the one which obliterated an ageing Chinese weather satellite in 2007.

It is now believed that the successful 2007 "kill" was in fact the third test in a series. Previous tests had demonstrated an ability to manoeuvre in proximity to targeted satellites.

This would suggest that China has experimented with techniques which could be used for "space mining", where mines or mini-satellites armed with jamming technologies could be placed within the orbits of an opponent's spacecraft.

Carrier group

In addition to its "sea denial" and space warfare strategies, China is also expanding its conventional capabilities.

The PLA Air Force in recent years has extended its ability for offshore operations, enhancing an offensive capability. It is planning an overhaul of its ageing fleet with the deployment of over 3,000 new aircraft.

China first aircraft carrier began sea trials in 2011

For the most part China has relied on copying Russian fighter technology. However, the roll-out of the Chengdu J-20 Stealth fighter prototype raised eyebrows last year, carefully timed to coincide with a visit by the US defence secretary.

There have been some very significant developments in the deployment of Chinese submarines in recent years. Beijing possesses 10 Russian-built ultra-quiet Kilo class submarines possibly armed with 200km-range anti-ship cruise missiles.

Since 2006, when a Chinese submarine surfaced undetected within torpedo range of the US aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, China's submarine force has regularly marauded the US Navy and its allies in the Pacific.

It is thought that China plans to build three aircraft carrier battle groups, each armed with 40 fighters, up to eight warships, three nuclear-powered attack submarines and a number of support vessels. The PLA Navy's retrofitted Varyag carrier, currently under sea-trials, will serve as a training platform.

Even if the aircraft carrier would likely be a prestige piece and more directed at Chinese domestic pride, the prospect of a Chinese aircraft carrier will certainly cause ripples for the broader East Asian naval balance.

Uncertain factors

While much attention has been paid to the breakneck speed of Chinese military modernisation over the last decade, the events of 9/11 and the subsequent campaigns in the Middle East and Afghanistan provided a window of opportunity for China to accelerate development.

In some cases there may have been, quite literally, windfalls for the PLA. There is speculation that China acquired undamaged Tomahawk cruise missile components in the early stages of the Afghanistan campaign a decade ago.

When US special forces failed to completely destroy one of their stealth helicopters during Operation Geronimo, Pakistan's military may have allowed PLA counterparts to inspect the tail rotor.

The PLA must be congratulating itself on the impressive array of weaponry which has tilted the balance in the Taiwan Strait in its favour.

China's new-found capabilities combined with the opaque nature of its military modernisation create a formula for mistrust with the US.

There are perhaps three factors for uncertainty. Firstly, the Chinese military's confidence in its new equipment could lead to an overestimation of its capability as an emerging great power.

Secondly, the Chinese leadership could underestimate its ability to control an unexpected escalation of hostilities in the Pacific.

Finally, the domestic political factor - the PLA's external behaviour could become a reaction to internal nationalistic sentiment, instability or faction fighting as Beijing prepares for the fifth generation leadership handover this year.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources BBC News
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: Chinese Naval Drills Irrelevant To South China Sea Situation ~ Says Defense Ministry

DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: Chinese Naval Drills Irrelevant To South China Sea Situation ~ Says Defense Ministry

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Xinhua

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / BEIJING, China - June 30, 2011: The recent military drills by the Chinese navy are routine arrangements made in accordance with the navy's annual plan and irrelevant to the South China Sea situation, said a Defense Ministry spokesman Wednesday.

Spokesman Yang Yujun made the comment in response to a question on the intention of the navy's military drills at a monthly press conference.

The navy's South Sea Fleet has staged six military exercises in June, including a military drill in waters near China's southern tropical island of Hainan.

Some media reports have speculated excessively over these routine exercises, Yang said.

"China hopes all parties concerned will treat the Chinese navy's normal exercises in an objective and rational way," he added.

Responding to a question on the U.S.- Philippines joint naval exercise, Yang said China always believes that any bilateral defense cooperation should not be directed against any third party or damage the interest of a third party.

He said China expects all relevant countries to make the peace and stability of the region a priority and do more to contribute toward it.

In response to a question on a U.S. senate resolution concerning the South China Sea issue, which mentions "freedom of navigation rights," Yang said freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has never been affected by the disputes, and there has never been such a problem.

Chinese Navy - Wikipedia

Chinese Navy Frigate 21st Century

Type 054A frigate

In 2005, The Type 054 frigate entered PLAN service (hulls 525 and 526). The Type 054 is considerably stealthier than all previous PLAN frigate designs. The Type 054 Ma'anshan class is armed with an HQ-7 octuple launcher, eight YJ83 anti-ship missiles, a 100 mm main gun, four AK630 CIWS turrets, ASW torpedoes and rocket launchers, carries one Ka-28 Helix or Z-9C, and displaces 3,400 tons. This represents a new generation of frigate design in the PLAN, and a shifting focus on larger multi-role platforms. The air defense missile armament is no better than the Jiangwei II class although this may be upgraded later.

The Type 054 has now been superseded by the Type 054A frigate, which is in series production. The 054A features a number of important improvements over the original 054. The main air defense armament has been upgraded to a 32-cell VLS HQ-16 medium-range SAM system, giving area air defence capability for the first time to PLAN frigates. In addition, the four AK630 CIWS have been replaced by two autonomous Type 730 CIWS. The Type 054A is altogether a well balanced and stealthy frigate design, with considerable firepower and multi-role versatility.

Littoral and coastal warfare vessels

Although the People's Liberation Army Navy classify its surface combatants with displacement less than 1,000 tons as boats, the maximum displacement of its boats in the inventory is only around 500 tons.

[edit]Submarine chasers

• Haiqing class submarine chasers - 20
• Haijiu class submarine chasers - 2
• Haizhui (Type 062-I) class submarine chasers - 13
• Hainan (Type 037) class submarine chasers - ~40+ and dozens in reserve
• Kronshtadt class submarine chasers - less than 20 (in reserve)

[edit]Missile boats

• Type 022 Houbei class missile boats - At least 81 completed, more under construction.
• Houjian (Type 037-II) class missile boats - 5 boats
• Houxin (Type 037-IG) class missile boats - 24 boats
• Houdong class missile boats - 1
• Type 021 Huangfeng (Soviet Osa-I) class missile boats - 40 + (being rearmed) with 60 - 70 in reserve
• Hola class missile boat - 1
• China Cat (C 14) class missile boat - 1
• Heku/Hegu/Houku/Hougu (Type 024) class missile boats - 20 + (being rearmed) with up to 50 in reserve

[edit]Torpedo boats

• Huchuan (Type 025) class Torpedo Hydrofoils - ~20, nearly 100 being in reserve
• P 4 class torpedo boats - 50 (in reserve, being transferred to patrol duties)
• P 6 class torpedo boats ^[2]

[edit]Gunboats

• Shanghai III (Type 062-I) class gunboats - 2
• Shanghai I & Shanghai II (Type 062) classes gunboats - 150+ active and at least 100 in reserve
• Huludao (Type 206) class gunboat - 8+
• Shantou class gunboats - less than 25 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
• Beihai class gunboats - less than 30 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
• Huangpu class gunboats - less than 15 (in reserve, subordinated to naval militia)
• Yulin class gunboats - less than 40 (being transferred to logistic duties)

[edit]Patrol boats

• Harbour security boat (PBI) - 4 newly built 80 ton class harbour security / patrol boats, and more are planned in order to take over the port security / patrol duties currently performed by the obsolete Shantou, Beihai, Huangpu, and Yulin classes gunboats, which are increasingly being converted to inshore surveying boats and range support boats.

Chinese Naval Vessel - Inventory

Class	Year first of class entered service	Nr. Planned/ Building	Nr. Active	Nr. in Reserve	Remarks
Submarines
Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines
Type 094 Jin	2009	2	3		Has 7200+ km range JL-2 SLBM
Type 092 Xia	1981		1		Has 2500 km range JL-1A SLBM
Nuclear Attack Submarines
Type 093 Shang	2002	4-6	2+		Has sub-launched YJ-8 AShM
Type 091 Han	1974		4	1	Has sub-launched YJ-8 AShM
Conventional Ballistic Missile Submarines
Modified Project 629 Golf	1958		1		Used as SLBM test platform
Conventional Attack Submarines
Type 041 Yuan	2005	1	4+		Air-independent propulsion. Has sub-launched AShM
Type 039/039A/039G Song	1999		13		Has sub-launched YJ-8 AShM
Project 636 Kilo II	1998		10		Has sub-launched 3M-54 Klub supersonic AShM
Project 877EKM Kilo I	1982		2		Has sub-launched 3M-54 Klub supersonic AShM
Type 035 Ming	1974		15
Type 033 Romeo	1962		8
Total Submarines		7-9	63	2
Principal Surface Combatants
Aircraft Carriers
Future Chinese carrier	2015	2
Project 1143.5 Kuznetsov	1991	1			Ex-Varyag. In refit
Destroyers
Type 051C (Luzhou)	2006		2		Has long-range S-300FM VLS SAM
Project 956EM Sovremenny II	2005		2		Has medium-range SA-N-12 SAM and Moskit supersonic AShM
Type 052C Luyang II (Lanzhou)	2004	2	2		Has long-range HQ-9 VLS SAM. Most advanced destroyers in Chinese service.
Type 052B Luyang I (Guangzhou)	2004		2		Has medium-range SA-N-12 SAM
Type 051B Luhai	1998		1		Has short-range HQ-7 SAM
Type 052 Luhu	1994		2		Has short-range HQ-7 SAM and Variable Depth Sonar
Project 956 Sovremenny I	1980		2		Has medium-range SA-N-12 SAM and Moskit supersonic AShM
Type 051DT Luda IV	1999 (upgrade)		4		Has short-range HQ-7 SAM
Type 051 Luda I	1971		9
Total Destroyers		2	26
Frigates
Type 054A Jiangkai II	2005		10		Has medium-range HQ-16 VLS SAM
Type 054 Jiangkai I (Ma'anshan)	2002		2		Has short-range HQ-7 SAM
Type 053H3 Jiangwei II	1996		10		Has short-range HQ-7 SAM
Type 053H1G Jianghu V	1993		6
Type 053H2G Jiangwei I	1988		4		Has short-range HQ-61 SAM
Type 053H2 Jianghu III	1986		3
Type 053HT-H Jianghu IV	1985		1
Type 053H1 Jianghu II	1978		9
Type 053H Jianghu I	1974		11
Total Frigates			56
Total Principal Surface Combatants		5	82
Coastal Warfare Vessels
Missile Boats
Type 022 Houbei	2004		80+		Stealth wave-piercing catamaran design
China Cat (C 14)	2002		1		Experimental vessel
Type 021 Houdong	1994		1
Type 037-II Houjian	1991		5
Type 037-IG Houxin	1991		24
Type 021 Hola	1970		1
Type 024 Heku/Hegu/Houku/Hougu	1966		20+	50
Type 021 Huangfeng (Osa-I)	1965		40+	60-70
Total Missile Boats			172+	110-120
Torpedo Boats
Type 025 Huchuan	1966		20	100
P4			0	50
Gun Boats
Type 062-I Shanghai III	1982		2
Type 062 Shanghai II/I	1982		150+	100
Type 206 Huludao			8
Submarine chasers
Type 037-IS Haiqing	1992		20
Type 037-I Haijiu	1987		2
Type 062-I Haizhui	1982		13
Type 037 Hainan	1964		40
Kronshtadt	1950s		0	20
Total Coastal Warfare Vessels			427+	380-390
Amphibious Warfare Vessels
Landing Platforms
Type 071 Yuzhao LPD	2008	1	1
Landing Ships
Type 072-III Yuting II LST	2004		9
Type 073 IV Yunshu LSM	2003		11
Type 074 Yuhai (Wuhu-A) LSM	1995		13
Type072-II Yuting I LST	1993		9
Type 073 III Yudeng LSM	1991		3
Type 072 Yukan LST	1978		7
Type 079 Yuliang LSM	1972		31
Total Landing Ships			83
Landing Craft
Yubei LCU	2004		10
Type 724 LCAC	1994		20-30
Zubr LCAC	1988	4	0
Type 722-II Jingsha II LCAC	1988		10
Type 271 Yupen LCU	1970		100
Type 067 Yunnan LCU	1968		200-300
Type 068/069 Yuch'in LCM	1962		30+
Total Landing Craft		4	370-480
Total Amphibious Warfare Vessels		5	454-564
Mine Warfare Vessels
Mine Warfare Ships
Type 081 Wochi minehunter	2006		1
Type 082-II Wozang minehunter	2005		2
Type 918 Wolei minelayer	1988		1
Type 082 Wosao minesweeper	1980s		9
Type 010 minesweeper	1955		14	26
Mine Warfare Drones
Type 312 Futi minesweeper / minesweeping drone	1971		4	42
Total Mine Warfare Vessels			31	68
Total All Vessels		17+	~1210-1320	450+
Total Combat Vessels		17+	~683	420+

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Xinhua

*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

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