Is Japan’s ability to strike back is the goal of keeping the “Fujian” in check? Why Japan, the United States and Australia are raising their alert levels
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Near the US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which boasts the strongest in the world?
In June 2022, China held a grand launching ceremony for its third aircraft carrier, Fujian. While it’s not expected to be deployed in combat by the Chinese navy until 2024, Japan, the United States and Australia have already raised their alert levels to several highs for China’s giant state-of-the-art warship, which has received a lot of hype.
In the case of Japan in particular, it would be normal to assume that the “counterattack capability” decided upon by the Kishida administration in December was naturally intended to contain “Fujian”.
The key to the counterattack capability is the lifting of the self-defense forces’ ban on “ranged weapons” with a range of more than 1,000 km, such as the US-made “Tomahawk” cruise missile and an improved version of the “Surface Missile”. domestically produced 12″ type ship “It is about doing. However, countering the threat posed by long-range missiles from the “three brothers of mighty nations” of North Korea, Russia and China is only an apparent goal and, in reality , it is called “Yuyoku of Fujian”, which is sending a strong message to the Chinese side.
A Tomahawk launched by the US Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry-class destroyer (Photo: US Navy)
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“If Japan or its ally the United States (or its quasi-ally Australia) were attacked by China, we would sink the ‘Fujian’ without hesitation.” It is at hand” and the Chinese side should expect a psychological effect of refraining from flamboyant actions in the waters near Japan.
China has already deployed two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, but there is a huge difference in military power between these and Fujian, and Fujian boasts the most powerful US Navy in the world. Is it close to nuclear-powered aircraft carrier? Some experts say so
Chinese aircraft carrier “Shandong” (Photo: Aflo)
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It should be noted that this ship is “the first original aircraft carrier designed and built by China”, and the previous two ships are nothing more than “facelifts” and copies of second-hand products from the former Soviet Union. While some critics say the plane looks just like a US aircraft carrier, it can be argued that China has improved its military technology to the point where it can build its own super-large aircraft carrier.
She is also China’s largest warship with a full load displacement of 80,000 to 90,000 tons and an overall length of 300 to 320m. Among the 11 nuclear-powered supergiant aircraft carriers owned by the US Navy, it compares favorably with the state-of-the-art Gerald R. Ford (over 100,000 tons full load displacement and 337 m long), commissioned in 2017. It is about twice as many 10,000-ton classes “Liaoning” and “Shandong”.
Basically, the bigger the carrier, the better, as it can carry more aircraft and conduct long-term maritime operations. Also, even if it gets hit by a missile attack, it won’t sink easily. However, operating costs are very high and recruiting and training thousands of crew members is also difficult.
