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These look genuinely impressive.
The effort reminds me of the Reagan era 600 ship fleet goal pumping out Ticonderoga Class Aegis “cruisers“.
How the PLAN man’s and trains these ships will be interesting to watch.
I reckon they will be Seawolf and Virginia class chum if they stray away from home waters.
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Talking about mass prod
www.navalnews.com
China launches two more Type 052DL destroyers in Dalian - Naval News
Two Type 052DL class destroyers were launched at Dalian Shipyard, according to images shared on social media.
www.navalnews.com
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Since the dawn of international politics, smaller states have faced the formidable challenge of navigating great-power rivalries. Today, it is the geopolitical contest between the United States and China that has compelled countries to balance their competing national interests. Which side they gravitate towards depends on domestic and external circumstances.
Consider the Philippines, which has an interest in maintaining both its growing economic ties with neighbouring China as well as its half-century-old security alliance with the US. Former president Rodrigo Duterte placed greater emphasis on the economy, turning the Philippines sharply away from the US and towards China after his election in 2016.
In exchange for effectively siding with China in the escalating great-power competition, Duterte sought Chinese investment in his pet project—the ‘Build! Build! Build!’ infrastructure program—and moderation of China’s aggressive behaviour in the West Philippine Sea, particularly its seizure of islets and outcroppings claimed by the Philippines. But China didn’t oblige. When Duterte’s presidency ended last June, China had delivered less than 5% of the US$24 billion it had pledged to invest in the Philippines, and its provocations in the West Philippine Sea, which comprises part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, continued unabated.
Duterte’s successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has so far taken a more prudent strategic approach. Deeply concerned about the territorial disputes fuelled by Chinese claims in the South China Sea, Marcos has decided to reaffirm and enhance his country’s partnership with the US.
To that end, the Philippines has decided to grant the US access to four more military bases—for a total of nine—some of which are located near disputed areas of the South China Sea. American troops rotate regularly through the designated bases. The US and the Philippines have also agreed to resume joint patrols in the South China Sea, which, under Duterte, were suspended for six years.
Beyond the US, the Philippines and Japan recently agreed to deepen defence ties, with Japanese troops securing greater access to Philippine territory for training and logistics. The Philippines is also pursuing greater maritime cooperation with the United Kingdom. The two countries held their inaugural maritime dialogue on 7 February. Two weeks later, the Philippine defence minister agreed with his Australian counterpart to formalise their ‘strategic’ defence engagement—potentially including joint patrols in the South China Sea.
So, the Philippines is gradually becoming a key hub of military cooperation among Southeast Asia’s democracies. This affords the US important strategic benefits—for which China has only itself to blame. China’s efforts to bully its neighbours into acquiescing to its demands and preferences have not only failed but have led to the emergence of a kind of anti-China coalition in the Indo-Pacific.
This has certainly been the case in South Korea. After the country agreed in 2016 to deploy a US THAAD missile-defence system on its territory—a response to escalating threats from North Korea—China imposed heavy economic sanctions. With that, public opinion in South Korea turned sharply against China. Measured on a scale of 1 (most negative) to 100 (most positive), South Korean sentiment towards China now stands at 26.4—two points less favourable than sentiment towards North Korea (28.6), according to a Hankook Research poll conducted in 2021.
Partly in response to public opinion, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, like Marcos, has sought to strengthen its alliance with the US. He is also working to improve long-strained relations with Japan, not least by announcing a plan to compensate Koreans who performed forced labour under Japanese colonial rule during World War II.
China’s aggressive sanctions against Australia—imposed in 2020 as punishment for the Australian government’s call for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid-19—spurred a similar foreign-policy reorientation. In September 2021, Australia formed an ‘enhanced security partnership’, known as AUKUS, with the US and the UK. And Australia, India, Japan and the US have sought to strengthen the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
All of these steps aim to bolster security, but they also carry risks. In his 1995 book Diplomacy, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger argued that it was Imperial German leaders’ combination of ‘truculence’ and ‘indecisiveness’ that ‘hurled their country first into isolation and then into war’. In his view, World War I erupted partly because leaders were ‘swayed by the emotions of the moment and hampered by an extraordinary lack of sensitivity to foreign psyches’. A similar dynamic may be at play today.
Ensuring that the dark history of the 20th century doesn’t echo today will require sound judgement from both sides. China must recognise the fear it has incited with its bullying, and democracies across the Indo-Pacific must take care to ensure that their responses don’t heighten tensions excessively. Otherwise, we may well sleepwalk into catastrophe.
Yoon Young-kwan, a former minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Korea, is professor emeritus of international relations at Seoul National University.
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/h...=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=How China lost Asia
Chinese military exercises "Single Sword" started near the island of Taiwan. Chinese exercises around Taiwan are aimed at testing the readiness of the Air Force to gain air superiority over the Taiwan Strait and control over the island. Also, task forces of the Chinese Navy organized combat patrols around Taiwan, simulating a circular blockade of the island. As part of the Joint Sword exercise, a computer-animated video simulating a Chinese missile attack was shown. All types of Chinese troops are used in the exercises. On April 9, 31 aircraft and 9 ships of the Chinese army crossed the "middle line" of the Taiwan Strait, or have already entered the southwestern part of the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone, the Taiwan Ministry of Defense said. China's "Joint Sword" exercise around Taiwan, organized by the Eastern Command of the People's Liberation Army of China, will last until April 10. J-10, J-11, J-16 and Su-30 fighters, H-6K strategic bombers, Y-8, Y-9 and Y-20AR transport aircraft, KJ-500 early warning and control aircraft are used in the exercises. As well as marine and land equipment.
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China readies supersonic spy drone unit, leaked document says
THE DISCORD LEAKS | China’s cutting-edge drone could give it a surveillance advantage during a possible military confrontation over Taiwan
*Beijing made clear its ambition to deploy advanced drones in 2019 when two jet-black drones were paraded through Tiananmen Square. Few analysts considered the drones fully operational at the time.
The Chinese military could soon deploy a high-altitude spy drone that travels at least three times the speed of sound, according to a leaked U.S. military assessment, a development that would dramatically strengthen China’s ability to conduct surveillance operations.
A secret document from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which has not previously been reported, shows the Chinese military is making technological advances that could help it target American warships around Taiwan and military bases in the region.
The document features satellite imagery dated Aug. 9 that shows two WZ-8 rocket-propelled reconnaissance drones at an air base in eastern China, about 350 miles inland from Shanghai. The drones are a cutting-edge surveillance system that could help China gather real-time mapping data to inform strategy or carry out missile strikes in a future conflict.
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PLA Navy's 3rd Aircraft Carrier Fujian Holds Propulsion Tests; More Chinese Carriers to Be Built
Apr. 25, 2023
(Source: Global Times; issued April 23, 2023)
The Chinese Navy's third aircraft carrier, Fujian, has begun her propulsion and morring trials as she prepares for her maiden sea voyage, probably before the end of the year. (screen grab)
Third Chinese Carrier Begins Propulsion and Mooring Tests
In addition to opening many naval bases along China's coastal regions to the public, China celebrated the 74th founding anniversary of the Chinese...
www.defense-aerospace.com
The construction of a modular military field camp of the Chinese army. Footage of the construction of an advanced field camp of the Chinese army has been published. The Joint Logistics Center in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province has supplied one of the brigades with a new, rapidly erected military modular campus. The military field camp is quite modern and equipped with automated auxiliary equipment, including climate-controlled accommodation for personnel, a kitchen, a bathroom, a mini-laundry, a waste disposal unit and other equipment. The military camp is equipped with a face recognition system, it is difficult for an outsider to enter it.
Interception by the destroyer "Suzhou" type 052DL of China of the destroyer Chung-Hoon of the United States. Clear footage released of Chinese warship Suzhou intercepting the US Navy destroyer Chung-Hoon in the Taiwan Strait. Reportedly, the Chinese destroyer of project 052DL made a sharp maneuver and crossed the course of the American destroyer "Chung-Hoon" type "Arleigh Burke" at a distance of 137 meters. As a result of the incident, the US destroyer Chung-Hoon was forced to abruptly slow down and adjust the route. After that, the Chinese destroyer "Suzhou" for the second time crossed the course of the US destroyer from starboard to port at a distance of 1828 meters. After the incident, the American command called the work of the Chinese team "unprofessional."
Now I don't know whether to laugh or cry, this foldable container is supposed to be a Hungarian patent (I have an article about it on my shelf). It really looks like the Chinese stole it too...
Overview of the main tank Toure 96A of China. The Chinese army has published a promo video of its main battle tank ZTZ-96A, also called the Third Generation Toure 96A. The Type 96 tank, like many other examples of Chinese military equipment, traces its lineage to Soviet prototypes. The Type 96 tank was created in 1997 on the basis of the Soviet T-72, in 2005 the tank was upgraded to the Type 96A version. The tank has a combined multi-layer armor in the frontal projection and dense dynamic protection. The tank is equipped with all modern systems and equipment: a thermal imager, a modern laser rangefinder, a high-speed fire-fighting system, and a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction. The main gun of the Type 96A tank is a 125 mm smoothbore gun, a copy of the Russian 2A46M, the tank has an automatic loader similar to that of the T-72 tank. The tank can fire not only conventional projectiles, but also anti-tank systems from the gun barrel. Auxiliary armament of the tank is a 12.7-mm W-85 anti-aircraft machine gun and a 7.62-mm machine gun coaxial with a cannon. In general, the tank has good indicators of firepower, mobility and security. The tank is equipped with a 1000 hp engine. capable of speeds up to 65 km / h on the highway, and up to 40 km / h on rough terrain. The weight of the tank is 42 tons, the crew is 3 people.
China's Twin Tailed Scorpion UAV attack, review. The Chinese army has published footage of exercises with the use of airborne weapons by the Twin Tailed Scorpion A strike UAV. The Tengden TW 328-A drone is an enlarged version of the TB001 UAV, the drone has added a third engine and has a maximum takeoff weight of 3250 kg. The UAV has seven hardpoints, three of which are triple or double. The UAV uses an extensive arsenal of missiles and bombs, including the TL-2 air-to-ground missile, FT-9 and LS-6-50 precision bombs, Blue Arrow 7 and Blue Arrow 11A anti-tank missiles, GB laser-guided bomb -25 and the YZ-102A bomb. The maximum flight range of Twin Tailed Scorpion A is 6000 km, autonomy is 35 hours, service ceiling is 8000 meters. Communication range - up to 3000 km when using satellite data transmission channels.
At the Changchun Airshow-2023 in China, a visualization of the Chinese strategic bomber Xian H-20, developed since 2000, was shown. The bomber is made using stealth technology. Itsappearance is in many ways similar to the American B-2 bomber, many of the characteristics of the aircraft are still kept secret. It is assumed that with a mass of 200 tons, the aircraft will be able to carry up to 20 tons of combat load at a distance of up to 8 thousand km. Presumably, inside the fuselage there will be a launching "drum" for several missiles - analogues of the Russian Kh-101 or Kh-55. The aircraft must fly at subsonic speeds, less than 1,000 km/h.
The navies of China and Thailand have begun military exercises Blue Assault-2023 in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand and in the area of the Sattahip naval base. The Blue Assault-2023 exercises will last until September 9, the parties will work out tasks during joint search and rescue operations at sea, landing personnel when helicopters land on the decks of ships. Three ships of the Eastern Fleet of China will take part in the exercises: the Simingshan Type 071 landing ship, the Anyang Type 054A URO frigate and the Chaohu Type 903A ship replenishment transport.
Chinese army exercises to restore an airfield after a bombing. The Chinese Army conducted exercises to restore a destroyed runway in the city of Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, the location of the 95th Fighter Brigade of the Chinese Air Force. The purpose of the exercise is to quickly restore an airfield damaged as a result of an enemy air raid. According to the exercise scenario, the runway was destroyed. Emergency services with special equipment and sappers were involved to carry out restoration work. The runway was reportedly restored within three hours.
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They must have read the battle plan for the US Defense of Taiwan. Knock out their airfields far from the coast and they would be very hard pressed to win conventionally. What ever happens I hope we have leaders who are willing to fight dirty and win and stop kissing our enemies asses. At least in Vietnam we were not restrained from killing as many as possible or the right to protect ourselves at any time. The magic words was Receiving Fire. No one ever questioned it either. In the end the politicians tried to blame WestMoreland for failing to do the impossible without clear direct concise orders from our so called commander in chief the school teacher from Texas. WestMoreland was a true soldier who understood you did not allow the enemy to live, you put as much pressure and harm on him until he lost the will. I heard so much bullshit for years after the war about false body counts. My 336th logged over 300 enemy kia in one month in 68 and it was not false or exaggerated. We simply had liars and thieves in our government who had more interest in stuffing their pockets than saving the lives of our military. Same as today... What did our so called leaders in Washington expect when they refused to allow the mining of Haiphong Harbor to stop resupply from Russia and China ? I feel good at 75 knowing most of those bastards are all dead today. If they were afraid of Russia and China then they should have thought about that before lying about the Gulf Of Tonkin.
Large Infantry units did not stay out in the jungle, they were usually out maybe 30 days and then back to base camp. Every piece of ground taken was simply evacuated soon after the shooting was over. On the other hand aviation units went out everyday and searched for the Fvckers, there was a very popular saying back then, "Find the bastards and Pile On". We always had fast reaction forces on standby to be airlifted if we ran into more than we could handle. On several occasions we had to call for help due to being out of fuel and ammo and not being able to attack. The reaction force in our area was usually the ARVN 21st Infantry and other units, they always arrived on scene within 15 minutes.
A Chinese J-16 fighter intercepts a US RC-135. Footage of Chinese fighter jets JH-7, J-11 and J-16 intercepting American reconnaissance aircraft in the East China and South China Seas has been published. There is nothing particularly interesting, except for the case when a Chinese fighter crosses the path of an American reconnaissance aircraft. Notice how the American RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft bounces when it hits the exhaust gases from the engine of a Chinese J-16 fighter.
Chinese ships use water cannons against Philippine ships. The Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels that were en route to Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea. The Chinese side first demanded to leave it, saying that Scarborough Reef was Chinese territory. The Filipinos ignored the warnings, insisting they were in their exclusive economic zone. In the disputed waters of the South China Sea, incidents periodically occur between the Philippines and China.
The Chinese Army has released footage of training exercises by a group of snipers from the 92nd Brigade of the 73rd Army of the Chinese Eastern Command. During the exercises, snipers used QBU-10 rifles. The Chinese QBU-10 sniper rifle, 12.7 mm caliber, was put into service in 2011. The rifle can be easily disassembled into its main components and can be carried in a backpack. According to Chinese sources, the firing accuracy of the QBU-10 rifle is about 2-3 arc minutes; the declared effective firing range against manpower is up to 1000 meters. Rifle length 1380 mm, rifle barrel 780 mm, weight without cartridges 13.3 kg. The rifle magazine capacity is 5 rounds.
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