Washington Times – China tries American ‘soft power’ with hospital ship

China’s military has a new weapon in the country’s soft-power arsenal that copies a technique long used by the United States – a 10,000-ton hospital ship to be deployed for humanitarian purposes in Asia and beyond.

The vessel, dubbed Ship 866, is meant to soften China’s image overseas and allay concerns among its neighbors over its navy´s growing strength, while at the same time adding to its military capabilities.

DefenseTech – China Seriously Considering Carriers

Norman Polmar summarizes the latest Chinese statements on acquiring aircraft carriers.

Wall Street Journal – Beijing Considers Upgrades to Navy

China’s top military spokesman said it is seriously considering adding a first aircraft carrier to its navy fleet, a fresh indication of the country’s growing military profile as it prepares for its first major naval deployment abroad.

BBC – Chinese ships will fight pirates

China has announced it is to send naval ships to fight rampant piracy in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.

Economist – Naval gazing

China’s Hainan island – A curious blend of beaches, babes and naval bases.

DefenseTech – Is China Moving Towards A Carrier?

Norman Polmar writes that after more than a decade of speculation about China obtaining an aircraft carrier, there appears to be some movement in that direction — although not related to procurement of a ship.

IMINT & Analysis – OTH Radar and the ASBM Threat

A fascinating post on how China can close the sensor-shooter loop to provide targeting for its anti ship ballistic missiles – “Over the horizon radar systems, once a source of long range early warning for Cold War enemies, have evolved to the point that their presence on the battlefield poses a serious threat to friendly forces. While many nations have developed OTH systems for various surveillance purposes, Chinese developments in this and other fields have effectively transformed the OTH from a missile warning system to a missile targeting system.”

(Special thanks to Cris for bringing this post and some other recent posts to my attention!)

Daily Telegraph – China defends ambition to build aircraft carriers

China has no plans to use aircraft carriers to achieve global power and challenge the United States’ dominance, a senior general has said in a pointed defence of its rapid military expansion.

Wired – Mystery Chinese Hospital Ship: What’s It For?

Late last month, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) accepted its first purpose-built floating hospital, the 10,000-ton “Ship 866.” While seemingly innocuous on the surface, ships like this are windows into an evolving military strategy for an emerging world power.

World Politics Review – New Chinese Naval Ships a Window into Evolving Strategy

Defense News – Rand Study Suggests U.S. Loses War With China

A new RAND study suggests U.S. air power in the Pacific would be inadequate to thwart a Chinese attack on Taiwan in 2020. The study, entitled “Air Combat Past, Present and Future,” by John Stillion and Scott Perdue, says China’s anti-access arms and strategy could deny the U.S. the “ability to operate efficiently from nearby bases or seas.”

International Assessment and Strategy Center – A look at China’s new anti-ship ballistic missiles.
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Asia Times – A very interesting look (from 2006) at possible scenarios for future conflicts between China and the US???and how China would wage asymmetric warfare against the US.

Asia Times – The assassin’s mace (Part 2).

Asia Times – If it comes to a shooting war ??? .
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Economist – Asia’s main powers are building up their navies. Is this the start of an arms race?
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Daily Telegraph – China has secretly built a major underground nuclear submarine base that could threaten Asian countries and challenge American power in the region.
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New York Times – Several recent events, from an eagle-eyed spotting of an image on Google Earth to an overt military delivery from Russia, suggest that China is continuing its rapid expansion of a submarine fleet that would be particularly useful in a conflict with the United States over Taiwan.
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New York Times – Robert Kaplan writes that the ultimate strategic effect of the Iraq war has been to hasten the arrival of the Asian Century.
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UPI – China is bent on the simultaneous development of both an aircraft carrier and a strategic nuclear submarine, or SSBN. Discussions over which should take priority are over, as a higher military budget allocation has accelerated the Peopleís Liberation Army navyís ambitious plan.

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Economist – The People’s Liberation Army is investing heavily to give China the military muscle to match its economic power. But can it begin to rival America?
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Financial Times – China has surprised the Pentagon with the pace of development of a new class of submarine that threatens the nuclear balance by providing Beijing with a more robust nuclear deterrent. The Chinese navy is developing a fleet of five nuclear ballistic missile submarines. The Jin class submarines would provide a much stronger nuclear deterrent because they would be armed with the new long-range JL-2 missile.
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Aviation Week – The Defense Department has released its annual report on China’s military strategy and modernization, which seems focused on information warfare and joint forces. The whole report is here.
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Washington Times – The new commander of U.S. military forces in the Pacific and Asia says he found Chinese military leaders intensely interested in acquiring aircraft carriers during a recent visit to that country.
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Daily Telegraph – A dramatic increase in the number of submarines being built in southeast Asia has sparked claims that a new arms race is under way beneath the waves in the Western Pacific.
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Washington Times – China’s military is engaged in a major buildup of submarines that includes five new strategic nuclear-missile boats and several advanced nuclear-powered attack submarines, according to the Office of Naval Intelligence.
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Naval War College Review – A Senior Captain in the Chinese Peopleís Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, writing in 2004 in Chinaís most prestigious military journal, surveys the now favorable geostrategic environment for accelerated Chinese maritime development, thereby articulating a rationale for a PLA Navy that is prepared to “defend a larger scope.”
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Naval War College Review – What even a modest aircraft carrier can do, in a variety of roles, has impressed itself upon the Chinese. They have avoided buying the wrong platform at the wrong timeóconventional large-deck ships may no longer be their ìgold standardîóbut aircraft carriers of some kind may yet complement their submarine-centered navy.
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