Closing the Gap: China Homes In On US Navy

I came across this article “America Cannot Match This Fleet: China’s 6 Supercarriers Shock World And Ignite Explosive Fears Over Collapsing Naval Power Balance" published August 23. 

The writer, Eirwen Williams is obviously overhyping it but what do you expect from a Westerner kan. 

After all, the United States already operates eleven supercarriers. They have the largest aircraft carrier fleet in the world. The active US fleet consists of two classes of nuclear-powered carriers: Nimitz-class – There are 10 vessels in this class, with the USS George HW Bush being the last commissioned in 2009. And the Gerald R Ford-class – The USS Gerald R Ford was commissioned in 2017 and is the first ship of its class. Besides, a total of three carriers in this class are said to be under construction. 

Anyway, Williams had highlighted that China’s naval expansion aims for a six-carrier fleet by the 2030s to increase strategic influence in the Indo-Pacific and that the PLA Navy’s ambitions reflect a desire to challenge the long-standing dominance of the United States in maritime power. 

For sure, I'm giving China the thumbs-up! 👍👍👍 

Even better, according to the writer, there are plans to develop nuclear-powered carriers, which would significantly enhance China’s naval reach and operational endurance.

Notwithstanding the above, I believe China should build at least 9 aircraft carriers because its first two, the Liaoning and Shandong are considered less advanced compared to US carriers due to their use of ski-jump (STOBAR) launch systems, which limit aircraft weight and capability, and their conventionally powered, less efficient design. Besides, the Liaoning, a refurbished Soviet design, and the Shandong, based on the Liaoning, primarily serve as training platforms while China gains experience before fielding its newer, catapult-equipped carriers. 

Also, China could keep at least 5-6 on active deployment at any time, even while others are in maintenance. That kind of overlapping coverage would allow Beijing to maintain a continuous footprint across the South China Sea and well beyond. 

And already, you should know, with its third carrier, the Fujian, it means that Beijing is the only naval power outside the US capable of deploying catapult-launched stealth aircraft at sea. In fact, the Fujian-J-35 pairing propels China into an elite club of carrier powers, dramatically narrowing the technological and operational gap with the US Navy.

Not only that but this ushers China's "three-carrier era", enabling PLAN to conduct simultaneous dual-carrier battle group operations while fielding a third carrier optimized for stealth operations and long-range strike. 

Besides this, is the assertion that the Fujian cements China's transformation into a true blue-water naval power.

Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan stormed past Bulgaria's Gabriela-Stefani Stoeva 21-15, 21-10 in just 32 minutes yesterday to guarantee Malaysia's first ever women's doubles medal at the BWF World Championships. 

With the historic laurel secured, the world No. 2 are eyeing a bigger prize when they take on Japan's Chiharu Shida-Nami Matsuyama in the semi-finals today. 

The latter are formidable. They beat Pearly-Thinaah in the bronze-medal playoff at last year's Paris Olympics, also staged at the same venue. 

In fact, the Japanese duo hold a commanding 13-2 head-to-head record and will split after this tournament, but Pearly insists she and Thinaah are ready for one last battle.

Don't ever underestimate the Malaysians. They know the job is not done yet. I have confidence they can go further! And I believe our Malaysian gals can pull off a win over the Japanese!