If we compare the Chinese armed forces two, 3 decades ago and today, we will get 2 totally unattached images. The process of modernization continues and is highly visible in the air forces and strategical rocket troops. However, the top transformations became a part of the Navy.
Aeroplane Liaoning in Hong Kong waters
During the 4th of a century, the Chinese Navy with a force practically only capable of defending the coast became the second, after the US Navy, a naval force on a globe scale. The scale and pace of this growth are unprecedented, and what worries American politicians and military most is not known where its boundaries are. In fact, it is besides unclear whether they have been delineated at all, or whether they are changing with the increasing capacity of Chinese shipyards and engineering staff, and China's increasing function in the global strategy and the changing attitude of the political class.
It seems that there will be no exaggeration in stating that for the United States, the process of expanding the Navy of the People's Liberation Army of China is present a major military challenge they face. Suffice to say, if in 2004 US The Navy was outnumbered over the Chinese Navy., having 76 more ships, this ratio changed to 39 units in 2022 to the detriment of the US. It is worth looking at briefly what classes of ships Beijing built during this period, and the reason for this can be the regularly updated improvement prepared for the needs of the American Congress.
When adopting the 2 abovementioned years as border points, the Chinese state of possession in the strategical class of atomic submarines changed from 1 to six, and it should be stressed that they are only fresh units, with recently developed ballistic missiles on board. Similarly, it is with atomic strike ships, in this case the American survey speaks of six ships in 2004 and the same number in 2022, but there is an mistake here, and in 2004 it was 5 units which were withdrawn from service in the following years and replaced with fresh ships in the mentioned number. In turn, the number of conventional submarines decreased somewhat (by 4 units, reaching 47 ships), but as in erstwhile cases, it is crucial to callback that the full class has been upgraded by replacing older vessels with much more modern ones.
Type 094 Jin are atomic submarines capable of carrying ballistic missiles
New in the Chinese navy are carriers present There are 2 ships in the line, the 3rd is undergoing sea trials. From zero to eight, the number of cruisers has increased, although it is possible to argue, due to the fact that the Chinese themselves classify kind 055 ships as large destroyers. As for the latter, their number increased by 21 units (to 42), the frigate by 4 (to 47). The line besides featured a class of corvets absent so far, but speaking of 50 units in the navy, it is impossible to forget another 22, which after only a fewer years of service were withdrawn from it and handed over to coastguards. The number of landing ships increased somewhat (by 17 vessels), although it is crucial to item the appearance of a class of helicopters (LHA, 3 units). In total, during this period, MW ChAL-W increased by 112 ships, while US Navy recorded a decrease of 3 units.
When writing about the Chinese Navy, it is worth paying attention to any trends. Firstly, China is building a fleet with global capabilities, but it will not be a fleet of global presence, as in the case of US Navy. Today, the PRC has only 1 overseas base (in Djibouti) and the position of another, located in Cambodia, is inactive not full known. However, there is no uncertainty that Beijing's goal is to dominate the region, which in turn runs counter to US interests. Beijing builds a blue water navy on the 1 hand, while on the other, it acquires smaller ships (corvettes) intended mainly for operations in the litoral zone. It is worth noting that the deficiency of emphasis on expansion of the landing fleet indicates that the motor of naval expansion is not Taiwanese context. Finally, we must not forget the question of atomic deterrence. With the transfer of JIN-type ships to service, China has acquired an underwater component of the atomic triad and is determined to grow it, as evidenced, among others, by the conversion of the said units into JL-3 missiles, which may happen in multi-head variant (MIRV), carrying most likely 3 loads.
90 years ago, the alleged long march saved the troops of the communist Chinese partisan from destruction, which in effect enabled the triumph in the civilian war and the proclamation of the People's Republic of China. Now the intent of Beijing is the alleged large revival of the Chinese nation, which is due until 2049, or a 100 years after this proclamation. Undoubtedly, a long march, or alternatively a cruise, of the Chinese Navy, contributes to restoring the Chinese sense of national pride and effectively strengthens the state's position on the global stage.
