Latest news with #FirstIslandChain
AllAfrica
4 days ago
- Politics
- AllAfrica
China's Fujian carrier flexes mass swarm attack power
China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, isn't just a leap in hardware. It marks a bold shift in maritime doctrine that aims to overcome the limits of its smaller predecessors and project power far beyond the First Island Chain. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, citing Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, that China's third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is on track to conduct 'deck load strikes,' a type of mass swarm attack involving the simultaneous launch of numerous aircraft. This marks the first time state media has publicly acknowledged the capability, which had previously been the subject of analyst speculation. The tactic, pioneered by the US Navy during the Vietnam War and known as an 'Alpha strike,' aims to overwhelm enemy defenses through rapid saturation, securing early detection and first-strike advantage. The CCTV report noted that Fujian's electromagnetic catapult system significantly boosts sortie rates over older ski-jump designs, laying the technical foundation for such operations. Military analyst Cao Weidong noted these strikes would push the carrier's systems to the limit, enabling it to destroy, suppress or deter enemy forces and support amphibious operations. The Fujian, launched in 2022 and undergoing steady sea trials since May 2023, is expected to be commissioned by year-end, joining the Liaoning and Shandong to form a three-carrier fleet. This fleet would significantly enhance China's naval escort and strike capabilities. The report portrays Fujian as central to a 'historic leap' in China's maritime strike capacity, with its full combat potential hinging on the success of deck load strike training. China is leveraging Fujian's deck load strike capability to overcome the limitations of its smaller carriers. This shift marks a doctrinal leap toward using large carriers as power projection tools and asymmetric counterweights to superior US naval forces under an anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) umbrella. China's smaller carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, face an offense-defense dilemma. With limited aircraft numbers, committing more jets to offense weakens defense, while holding back reduces strike power. According to China Power, the Liaoning has an air wing comprising 18-24 J-15 fighters and 17 helicopters, while its sister ship, the Shandong, has a slightly larger air wing, with four more fixed-wing aircraft and eight additional helicopters. Fujian's air wing dwarfs those of its predecessors, with China Power estimating 60 aircraft onboard, including 40 fighters, helicopters and early warning platforms. Liaoning and Shandong would be hard-pressed to mount an Alpha Strike. A December 2024 Citadel article notes that an Alpha Strike from the USS Harry S Truman consists of 36 F/A-18 E/F fighters launching 144 air-to-surface missiles, including the AGM-88 anti-radiation missile. Given Fujian's air wing and electromagnetic launch catapult, it should, on paper, be capable of generating similar airpower surges. That capability may fit within a broader asymmetric naval doctrine against more powerful US carrier battlegroups. Daniel Rice notes in a July 2024 report for the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) that the People's Liberation Army-Navy's (PLAN) carrier doctrine centers on a three-layer defense system, enabling blue-water operations with growing independence and reach. According to Rice, the carrier battlegroup is organized around concentric defense zones: the 'Outer Defense Zone' (185–400 kilometers) patrolled by submarines and J-15 fighters for long-range strike and ISR; the 'Middle Defense Zone' (45–185 kilometers) covered by destroyers and frigates with radar, vertical launch systems (VLS), and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) assets; and the 'Inner Defense Zone' (100 meters–45 kilometers) protected by close-in weapons and point-defense systems. Rice describes the carrier as a command hub supported by replenishment ships for sustained operations. He adds that air operations follow either 'split wave' or 'continuous' patterns, optimized for saturation strikes or persistent air presence, indicating doctrinal experimentation. Rice concludes that the PLAN's focus on layered defense, integrated air-sea coordination and logistics highlights its transition from coastal defense to power projection, with battlegroups designed to dominate maritime airspace, support amphibious landings and counter multi-domain threats. Such defenses are essential for China to push through the First Island Chain via the Miyako Strait and Bashi Channel, strategic chokepoints that Japanese anti-ship missile batteries, combat aircraft and submarines could cover. Supporting that point, China recently operated two carrier battlegroups simultaneously beyond the First Island Chain, a first with profound implications. Jennifer Parker notes in a Breaking Defense article this month that among the few countries with aircraft carriers, even fewer can deploy two simultaneously at sea. She says China's dual deployment signals growing blue-water capabilities and intent to operate beyond its near seas. However, Ben Ho writes in a September 2024 Breaking Defense article that instead of engaging US forces in a Midway-style encounter, China likely sees its carriers as 'fleets-in-being' operating within an A2/AD framework. A cornerstone of that A2/AD posture is the DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), also known as the 'carrier killer.' The US Department of Defense's (DOD) 2024 China Military Power Report (CMPR) describes it as a dual-capable missile with a 4,000-kilometer range, capable of threatening US carriers from deep within the Chinese mainland. The report adds it may also be capable of land-attack missions, putting US bases like Guam at risk. China's carriers could thus operate under this missile umbrella, potentially deterring US intervention in the Western Pacific. Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington write in an October 2024 Taipei Times article that a three-carrier Chinese force could position itself 300 to 800 kilometers east of Taiwan, outside the reach of Taipei's anti-ship missiles. Chen and Hetherington argue that this posture enables China to pressure Taiwan from both the mainland and the Pacific while deterring US and allied action. With Fujian at the center of a three-carrier fleet, China is adopting a blue-water strategy that blends massed airpower, layered defense and strategic deterrence into a credible counterweight against superior US naval forces.
Miami Herald
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Security Partner Receives Submarine Boost Against China's Invasion Fleet
Taiwan-a key security partner of the United States-has begun sea trials of its first indigenous submarine following its unveiling nearly two years ago. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Communist China has long claimed Taiwan-a self-ruled, democratic island-as part of its territory, despite never having governed it. Beijing has vowed to achieve unification with the island, by force if necessary. U.S. officials believe Chinese leader Xi Jinping has instructed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to be capable of taking Taiwan by 2027. China has the world's largest navy by hull count, including numerous amphibious vessels capable of projecting air and land power from sea to shore during a potential island-landing campaign across the Taiwan Strait. In response to China's growing naval threat, Taiwan has been arming itself with anti-ship weapons-both U.S.-supplied and domestically developed. Taiwan forms part of the First Island Chain under a U.S. containment strategy aimed at restricting China's naval activities in the Western Pacific during wartime. Meanwhile, the Taiwan Relations Act obligates Washington to provide the island with defensive weapons. The Taiwanese navy submarineNarwhal, also known as Hai Kun, conducted "navigation tests" on Saturday and "floating navigation tests" on Tuesday in Kaohsiung Harbor, located in the southern part of the island, according to shipbuilder CSBC Corporation, Taiwan. During the floating navigation tests, the submarine's systems-including propulsion, rudder, electricity, communication, and navigation-were evaluated, the shipbuilder added. These systems will be fine-tuned based on the test results prior to the next stage of sea trials. The submarine, unveiled in September 2023, is scheduled to undergo three stages of trials at sea: floating navigation, shallow-water diving, and deep-water diving. The diving tests will require the submarine to be fully submerged at progressively greater depths and pressures. The sea trials were originally scheduled for April, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. It remains unclear whether the submarine will be able to complete the trials and be delivered before the November deadline set by the military. According to a Pentagon report, the Taiwanese navy operates four attack submarines, while the PLA fields 47 conventionally powered and six nuclear-powered attack submarines, as well as six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Of the four aging Taiwanese submarines, two were acquired from the Netherlands in the 1980s and two were former U.S. training submarines built during World War II. The Chinese military has maintained a persistent presence around Taiwan with its naval and coast guard vessels, conducting exercises aimed at establishing a blockade around the island. Submarines would play a vital role in Taiwan's defense by countering any such blockade. Chiu Chun-jung, Taiwanese Navy Chief of Staff, said in April: "April was the original goal [of commencing sea trials]...We are currently working on improvements and final calibrations to meet the requirements set for sea trials. That is our main goal." Specialist outlet Naval News commented in September 2023: "Although a domestic submarine, most of the major mission-critical systems and subsystems of the [Narwhal] are provided by numerous foreign contractors with long and solid experience in the submarine industry." Taiwan is expected to continue strengthening its defenses against a possible Chinese invasion from the sea, as China rapidly expands the size and capabilities of its naval fleet. Related Articles Map Shows Where Hegseth Wants US Military on China's DoorstepPitcher Leaves Yankees Organization for TaiwanMap Tracks Chinese Aircraft Carrier Near US AlliesUS Warship Challenged Beijing's South China Sea Claims, Navy Says 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Security Partner Receives Submarine Boost Against China's Invasion Fleet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Taiwan—a key security partner of the United States—has begun sea trials of its first indigenous submarine following its unveiling nearly two years ago. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters Communist China has long claimed Taiwan—a self-ruled, democratic island—as part of its territory, despite never having governed it. Beijing has vowed to achieve unification with the island, by force if necessary. U.S. officials believe Chinese leader Xi Jinping has instructed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to be capable of taking Taiwan by 2027. China has the world's largest navy by hull count, including numerous amphibious vessels capable of projecting air and land power from sea to shore during a potential island-landing campaign across the Taiwan Strait. In response to China's growing naval threat, Taiwan has been arming itself with anti-ship weapons—both U.S.-supplied and domestically developed. Taiwan forms part of the First Island Chain under a U.S. containment strategy aimed at restricting China's naval activities in the Western Pacific during wartime. Meanwhile, the Taiwan Relations Act obligates Washington to provide the island with defensive weapons. What To Know The Taiwanese navy submarine Narwhal, also known as Hai Kun, conducted "navigation tests" on Saturday and "floating navigation tests" on Tuesday in Kaohsiung Harbor, located in the southern part of the island, according to shipbuilder CSBC Corporation, Taiwan. During the floating navigation tests, the submarine's systems—including propulsion, rudder, electricity, communication, and navigation—were evaluated, the shipbuilder added. These systems will be fine-tuned based on the test results prior to the next stage of sea trials. The submarine, unveiled in September 2023, is scheduled to undergo three stages of trials at sea: floating navigation, shallow-water diving, and deep-water diving. The diving tests will require the submarine to be fully submerged at progressively greater depths and pressures. A fruit of our self-reliant defense policy and future underwater capacity that guards our waters, Taiwan's first indigenous defense #submarine has been named 'Narwhal' and was christened by President Tsai @iingwen this morning. — 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) September 28, 2023 The sea trials were originally scheduled for April, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. It remains unclear whether the submarine will be able to complete the trials and be delivered before the November deadline set by the military. According to a Pentagon report, the Taiwanese navy operates four attack submarines, while the PLA fields 47 conventionally powered and six nuclear-powered attack submarines, as well as six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Of the four aging Taiwanese submarines, two were acquired from the Netherlands in the 1980s and two were former U.S. training submarines built during World War II. The Chinese military has maintained a persistent presence around Taiwan with its naval and coast guard vessels, conducting exercises aimed at establishing a blockade around the island. Submarines would play a vital role in Taiwan's defense by countering any such blockade. Taiwan's indigenous submarine Narwhal conducts floating navigation tests in Kaohsiung Harbor on June 17, 2025. Taiwan's indigenous submarine Narwhal conducts floating navigation tests in Kaohsiung Harbor on June 17, 2025. CSBC Corporation, Taiwan What People Are Saying Chiu Chun-jung, Taiwanese Navy Chief of Staff, said in April: "April was the original goal [of commencing sea trials]...We are currently working on improvements and final calibrations to meet the requirements set for sea trials. That is our main goal." Specialist outlet Naval News commented in September 2023: "Although a domestic submarine, most of the major mission-critical systems and subsystems of the [Narwhal] are provided by numerous foreign contractors with long and solid experience in the submarine industry." What Happens Next Taiwan is expected to continue strengthening its defenses against a possible Chinese invasion from the sea, as China rapidly expands the size and capabilities of its naval fleet.
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Photos Show US and China's Aircraft Carriers Deployed to Pacific Waters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Both the United States and China deployed their aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific Ocean on Sunday, as Washington and Beijing jostle for naval dominance in the region. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington returned to its home port in Japan—Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo—last November, after undergoing maintenance in Virginia since 2017, serving as one of the forward-deployed American warships to the allied country. Meanwhile, China is challenging the First Island Chain—formed by Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines under the U.S. containment strategy meant to keep China's forces in check—with a fleet of more than 370 naval vessels, including two aircraft carriers in active service. The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at Yokosuka naval base in Japan on November 22, 2024. The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at Yokosuka naval base in Japan on November 22, 2024. Kyodo News via AP What To Know Photos shared on X, formerly Twitter, by a ship spotter in Japan on Sunday show the George Washington leaving its home port for sea trials. Its departure was also confirmed by a local government website that tracks visits by U.S. nuclear-powered naval vessels to Yokosuka. Lieutenant Commander Mark Langford, a public affairs officer aboard the George Washington, told Newsweek that the aircraft carrier was underway conducting "routine operations" in the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of operations, which covers the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. This marked the first time the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier had left Yokosuka since its return seven months ago. The departure comes as aircraft assigned to the warship conduct field carrier landing practice on Iwo To, a Japanese island located 750 miles south of Tokyo. While the American aircraft carrier was underway in waters near Japan, the Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning was spotted operating 124 miles north of Kuba Island—part of Japan's southwestern Senkaku Islands—the Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry announced. The uninhabited Senkaku Islands, also known as the Diaoyu Islands in China, are claimed by Beijing, which has intensified its assertive coast guard patrols since Tokyo nationalized the islands in 2012. The U.S. ally has accused China of attempting to alter the status quo. The Liaoning was joined by four other Chinese warships in the East China Sea, according to the report, including Type 052D destroyers CNS Qiqihar and CNS Tangshan, as well as Type 054A frigates CNS Binzhou and CNS Anyang, which were identified by hull numbers. "Takeoff and landing of carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters was confirmed," said the Japan Joint Staff, adding that a ship and an aircraft assigned to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, as well as fighter jets of the Japanese air force, were deployed in response. What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy previously said: "George Washington is [Seventh] Fleet's premiere forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and operates alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet." Japan's defense white paper commented: "China has been rapidly building up military capabilities while intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, where the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands are, as well as in the Pacific." The Chinese Defense Ministry previously responded: "Japan has been closely tracking, monitoring, and interfering with Chinese vessels and aircraft for a long time, jeopardizing the safety of Chinese vessels and aircraft and easily causing maritime and air security problems." What Happens Next The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning departs Hong Kong on July 11, 2017. The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning departs Hong Kong on July 11, 2017. Kin Cheung/AP Photo It remains to be seen whether the Chinese aircraft carrier will pass through the Miyako Strait from the East China Sea and head toward the Philippine Sea, thereby breaching the island chain.
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Shows Triple US Spy Flights Near China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A map by Newsweek shows three United States military aircraft, deployed at a front-line base in the Western Pacific Ocean, conducting spy flights near China on Tuesday. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Pacific Air Forces for comment by email. The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Newsweek written request for comment. Why It Matters The U.S. military has frequently deployed its spy aircraft to collect intelligence near the Chinese coastline, prompting strong objections from Beijing, which has demanded Washington put an end to what it called dangerous close-in reconnaissance around China's airspace and waters. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces previously told Newsweek it flies "hundreds of sorties" per day for training and integration missions, supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific. "We reserve the right to navigate under international norms," the Hawaii-headquartered command said. A United States Air Force RC-135S Cobra Ball reconnaissance aircraft descends toward the runway at Travis Air Force Base in California on May 23, 2020. A United States Air Force RC-135S Cobra Ball reconnaissance aircraft descends toward the runway at Travis Air Force Base in California on May 23, 2020. Senior Airman Amy Younger/U.S. Air Force Most of the American spy planes operating near China are deployed on the Japanese island of Okinawa, which is part of the First Island Chain, a U.S. containment strategy aimed at restricting China's military access to the Pacific Ocean using U.S.-aligned territories. What To Know According to data captured by the aircraft tracking service Flightradar24, a trio of U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, which included an RC-135S Cobra Ball, RC-135U Combat Sent, and RC-135W Rivet Joint, departed from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. The Cobra Ball is designed for gathering data on ballistic missiles, a U.S. Air Force fact sheet reads. The Combat Sent can locate and identify military radar signals, while the Rivet Joint detects, identifies and geolocates signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. The U.S. spy planes were tracked operating over the contested South China Sea and the Luzon Strait between the northern Philippines and southern Taiwan, a Newsweek map shows. Both countries, which are U.S. allies and partners, are part of the First Island Chain. Communist China has threatened Taiwan with the use of force, claiming the island is part of its territory, despite never having ruled it. Meanwhile, Beijing has territorial disputes with Manila, which has signed a defense treaty with Washington, over the South China Sea. The triple American spy flights come as a U.S.-Philippine war game, code-named Balikatan 2025, is being held in the Southeast Asian country, while a Chinese naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier CNS Shandong transited the Luzon Strait twice last week. What People Are Saying The U.S. Air Force says: "The RC-135S, equipped with a sophisticated array of optical and electronic sensors, recording media, and communications equipment, is a national asset uniquely suited to provide America's leaders and defense community with vital information that cannot be obtained by any other source." Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, previously said: "U.S. aircraft and warships frequently conduct close-in reconnaissance around China, which seriously threatens China's national security and undermines regional peace and stability. The Chinese side has repeatedly voiced our grave concerns. The U.S. needs to put an immediate end to such provocations." What Happens Next It is unclear whether the Chinese military dispatched fighter aircraft to intercept the three American spy planes. The U.S. military has previously accused a Chinese fighter jet of performing an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" near an American reconnaissance plane.
