China Is Planning To Build "a Powerful" Navy

[Shuimo]

BEIJING (*******) - Chinese president and commander-in-chief Hu Jintao urged the building of a powerful navy that is prepared "at any time" for military struggle, state media reported on Thursday.

At a meeting of delegates to a Communist Party meeting of the navy on Wednesday, Hu said China, whose military build-up has been a source of friction with the United States, was a major maritime country whose naval capability must be improved.

"We should strive to build a powerful navy that adapts to the needs of our military's historical mission in this new century and at this new stage," he said in comments splashed on the front pages of the party mouthpiece People's Daily and the People's Liberation Army Daily. "We should make sound preparations for military struggles and ensure that the forces can effectively carry out missions at any time," said Hu, pictured in green military garb for the occasion.

China's naval expansion includes a growing submarine fleet and new ships with "blue water" capability, fuelling fears in the United States that its military could alter the balance of power in Asia with consequences for Taiwan.

China has said it would attack if the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own formally declares independence.

Analysts say China sees a stronger navy as a way to secure energy supplies and seaborne trade routes to help ease security fears over supplies of resources and oil it needs to feed its booming economy.

Hu also called for the "strict management of the navy according to law", a possible reference to a scandal in which a vice admiral was jailed for life on a charge of embezzlement.

Wang Shouye was convicted by a military court earlier this month, Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po reported, making him the most senior Chinese military officer to be jailed for corruption.

Earlier this year, Wang was sacked as navy deputy commander for bad morals and using his position to demand and accept bribes and violate laws and discipline, the report said.

[Ordie]

"We should strive to build a powerful navy that adapts to the needs of our military's historical mission in this new century and at this new stage,"

What is the "Naval Historical Mission"?

The last time China had considerable naval projection was during the Ming Dynasty led by a Muslim eunuch.

[Lau]

What is the "Naval Historical Mission"?

The last time China had considerable naval projection was during the Ming Dynasty led by a Muslim eunuch.

That's probably why he said "military's historical mission"... whatever that means.

[matthew.manhorn]

Building a strong navy is just for China's "face". The Taiwanese navy is a pushover for China, with the USN's aid however, it's a whole different matter.

[Adson Liang]

What is the "Naval Historical Mission"?

The last time China had considerable naval projection was during the Ming Dynasty led by a Muslim eunuch.


PLA's Historical Mission is Safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, contribute to maintaining world peace.

[Laworkerbee]

What is the "Naval Historical Mission"?

The last time China had considerable naval projection was during the Ming Dynasty led by a Muslim eunuch.

Wasn't that Navy burned at the docks for some crazy reason?

[Ordie]

Wasn't that Navy burned at the docks for some crazy reason?

Yep...the fleet, docks and drawings were destroyed at the orders of the Emperor as part of an isolationist policy during teh Ming Dynsaty.

[Laworkerbee]

Yep...the fleet, docks and drawings were destroyed at the orders of the Emperor as part of an isolationist policy during teh Ming Dynsaty.

A real turning point, just think...the Chinese could have settled the Western United States.

[Ordie]

A real turning point, just think...the Chinese could have settled the Western United States.


Perhaps the Mings realized the farther it expanded, the more difficult to manage and control. But the policy failed in that it left China open to European and Japanese incursions further into the future.

[TORA]

PLA's Historical Mission is Safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity

Or better PLA's Historical Mission is Safeguarding the China's Communist Party, it's security and it's interests.

Sword and Shield of the Regime not of the People -




contribute to maintaining world peace.

Yeah, in the last 40 years they really contribute to maintain regional peace and stability...aggressive conflicts against Indians, Vietnamese, Tibetans, constant threaths to the sovereignity of Taiwan, constant BS about "ancient territories"...and of course against the Chinese people itself...

[Adson Liang]

Yeah, in the last 40 years they really contribute to maintain regional peace and stability...aggressive conflicts against Indians, Vietnamese, Tibetans, constant threaths to the sovereignity of Taiwan, constant BS about "ancient territories"...and of course against the Chinese people itself...

I suggest you take out your History textbooks and read them carefully. Don't you know who is the first one stired up the war?Actually the P.R.C have never attacked any country forwardly.The conflicts against Indians, Vietnamese including Soviet Union,all are self-defense counterattack!As for Tibet and Taiwan , it is a internal issue.

[Kadrun]

I suggest you take out your History textbooks and read them carefully. Don't you know who is the first one stired up the war?Actually the P.R.C have never attacked any country forwardly.The conflicts against Indians, Vietnamese including Soviet Union,all are self-defense counterattack!As for Tibet and Taiwan , it is a internal issue.

Tibet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Tibet
Korea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_war

Period.

[SOC]

China came to the aid of their ally in Korea. They didn't start the war, did they?

[Kadrun]

China came to the aid of their ally in Korea. They didn't start the war, did they?

That would make sense if S. Korea was the one invaded N. Korea.
Anyway, I belive there was something about Mao aksed NK to invade SK after PRC finish their job on Tibet.

[SOC]

No, it's the same thing. In either case, it was not China that started the war.

[deagle]

a powerful country deserves to build a powerful navy.

[TheMiddlePath]

Wasn't that Navy burned at the docks for some crazy reason?


Zheng He voyages cost a lot of money and came back with nothing much except some exotic animals like the giraff from Africa. There were also the power strugle between the confucian scholars who were against the eunuchs. China was also always under thread by the Manchus in the northen borders and need resources there.

[TORA]

Chinese president and commander-in-chief Hu Jintao urged the building of a powerful navy that is prepared "at any time" for military struggle



China has said it would attack if the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own formally declares independence.


rofl

They like talk big words but always they make little facts...they know well how costly and ineffecctive would be such an adventure against Taiwan.

Such a build up obviously will be aimed for offensive purposes and will just promote destabilization in the region with all the further consequences that Beijing and Pyongyang will then pay

[Ordie]

rofl

They like talk big words but always they make little facts...they know well how costly and ineffecctive would be such an adventure against Taiwan.

Such a build up obviously will be aimed for offensive purposes and will just promote destabilization in the region with all the further consequences that Beijing and Pyongyang will then pay

I would not dismiss the PLAN.

They are here to stay and improving. What they lack is operational and combat experience. That is just as true for the JMSDF.

Given thier deployment overseas against the Somali pirates, they will learn as they go.

To lessen the tensions and threats, the best we can hope for is for the PLAN to become more transparent through port visits, exchanges and joint exercises.

[Jiggy]

seems logical, especially now since india and taiwan are taking this route as well.

this will also help them in securing resources in southeast asia.


They are here to stay and improving.

well thats arguable, since the likely hood of them bumping heads with other naval powers will increase dramatically.

[TORA]

They are here to stay and improving. What they lack is operational and combat experience. That is just as true for the JMSDF.
Given thier deployment overseas against the Somali pirates, they will learn as they go.


The JMSDF is nothing more than the good old Imperial Navy, just strictly limited by U.S. pressure. The Japanese Navy could be one of the 3 most large and powerful of the world like was in the 30's, is just a question of laws...lack of combat experience is not a fundamental factor...so wich navies around the world had been combat experience of the size of what could be a naval warfare in the Taiwanese Strait in the future? No one...while I may understimate too much the Chinese I'm sure the Japan Maritime and the Air Self Defense Forces are and will be more than ready to any emergency that will pose a threat to Japan's sovereignty and it's interests


To lessen the tensions and threats, the best we can hope for is for the PLAN to become more transparent through port visits, exchanges and joint exercises.


Exchanges and port visits are happening and growing since the last years, this doesn't mean that we need lesser readiness. Their BS remarks from Okinawa down to the Spratly are a costant thing.

[Ordie]

Their BS remarks from Okinawa down to the Spratly are a costant thing.

It's a territorial claim issue for the diplomats to sort it out.

Not nationalist on both sides.

[TORA]

It's a territorial claim issue for the diplomats to sort it out.


I'm not so confident that would goes "diplomat" if U.S. naval forces were not in the region...

[balalaika-san]

The JMSDF is nothing more than the good old Imperial Navy, just strictly limited by U.S. pressure. The Japanese Navy could be one of the 3 most large and powerful of the world like was in the 30's, is just a question of laws...lack of combat experience is not a fundamental factor...so wich navies around the world had been combat experience of the size of what could be a naval warfare in the Taiwanese Strait in the future? No one...while I may understimate too much the Chinese I'm sure the Japan Maritime and the Air Self Defense Forces are and will be more than ready to any emergency that will pose a threat to Japan's sovereignty and it's interests




Exchanges and port visits are happening and growing since the last years, this doesn't mean that we need lesser readiness. Their BS remarks from Okinawa down to the Spratly are a costant thing.
I doubt Japan will have a navy as powerful as they have in WW2. There is no political will and right condition to build a big navy.
Back then, there was need for a powerful navy to keep the empire under countrol and possible expansion in the future.
Also, the power balance between Japan and China shift to the Japan's side for the first time in histroy and American was isolate itself from the international affairs. Therefore, unlike Germany, no one around Japan is responding to the naval expansion politicaly or militarily.

[TORA]

I doubt Japan will have a navy as powerful as they have in WW2. There is no political will and right condition to build a big navy.

Of course, and I didn't said that...capabilities obviously there are, political will and needs certainly not. Anyway a Chinese maritime build up certainly will not be aimed to warm the relations, the current PLAN satisfy it's requirements, while Japan has a powerful Navy that is mainly for a defensive duty and represents no threat to the region, the recent developments of Chinese subs and other major vessels wich they will considarable expand in numbers in the future certainly go trought their defensive doctrine and together with their territorial remarks their just implementing the possibilites of a regional build up, something that ChiCom should be well aware off...p-)

[balalaika-san]

Of course, and I didn't said that...capabilities obviously there are, political will and needs certainly not. Anyway a Chinese maritime build up certainly will not be aimed to warm the relations, the current PLAN satisfy it's requirements, while Japan has a powerful Navy that is mainly for a defensive duty and represents no threat to the region, the recent developments of Chinese subs and other major vessels wich they will considarable expand in numbers in the future certainly go trought their defensive doctrine and together with their territorial remarks their just implementing the possibilites of a regional build up, something that ChiCom should be well aware off...p-)
There is a regional build up, not just a possibilites.
Countries like South Korea, China, and India are on the rise, the pursue for a powerful military force is inevitable. ChiCom is not major factor in this.
(in fact, I belive ChiCom have delayed this arms build up for 20 years. Imagine the Asia with united Korea and a China without Great leap forward and culture revolution)
Territorial disputed will not solve if one side can't complete over power the other side. You need to silence the population on that issue. Cyprus and Falkland are great examples. Personally, I don't mind a small war to solve a hot spot that's fulling the nationalism.

[TORA]

There is a regional build up, not just a possibilites.

Do not mix up China/Korea with Japan...

There isn't actually a military buildup...at least not by Japan wich could scream out all it's neighbours if Tokyo want...really Japan is a country that could change in a matter of time, in a couple of months they could develop from their civil space program ICBM with MIRV capabilities such the H-2 rockets family and have a credible nuclear deterrent like Israel, just a little example



Countries like South Korea, China, and India are on the rise, the pursue for a powerful military force is inevitable. ChiCom is not major factor in this.
(in fact, I belive ChiCom have delayed this arms build up for 20 years. Imagine the Asia with united Korea and a China without Great leap forward and culture revolution)


While South Korea has a relatively good arms industry, simple and reliable, China depends and will depends by foreign hardware regarding latest technologies, they will masterize the knowledge by 3rd countries hardware but still they will not be able to develop totally new systems like Israel, Germany or Japan for example can...if Japan would spend it's GDP on defense system like Chinese and Korean are doing and not on the miriad of high techs that we all know (since the 60's/70's whatever Tokyo spend around 0.8% of it's GDP for it's defense) then...

I will post soon some of the new military hardwares that actually Tokyo is developing for put in service in the next decade, from vehicles to A/A & A/S missiles, cargo/maritime warfare planes and a 5th gen fighter... impressive stuff -