Chinese poised to assert it's naval muscle...

China reveals it's Aircraft Carrier plans;

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/12/17/2010121700326.html

First and foremost, I'm very interested to see Japans reaction to this news. I'd imagine the push to change the Japanese constitution will gain even more momentum, and we might see the first real Jap Carrier hit the water since the Unryu class Amagi in 1944! So, by 2020(theoretically), the Chinese will be in possession of 3 conventionally powered carriers, and at least one nuclear powered carrier, equipped with Shenyang J-15's(indigenous made copy of the Russian Su-33 carrier borne fighter). It does appear that, slowly but surely, the balance of power is shifting in the pacific. Here's a link to an older article with more pictures of the work being done to the Varyag in Dailan; http://asian-defence.blogspot.com/2010/11/chinese-plan-aircraft-carrier-varyag.html

Bump.

The US has a decision to make. Either we ramp up our blue water navy capabilities and our AF to match what is coming from China or we will fall behind as our capabilities diminish and theirs increases. Of course that's what our Treasonous Leader wants.

We need to hope for the coming Reagan to Obama that Reagan was to Carter.

We are definitely in the market for an upgrade in capability in the Air Force dept. The Navy would do well to not focus so intently on the fanciest, most expensive technologies, especially when our potential enemies are at least 20 years away from posing a truly serious threat in numbers and capability. This whole situation in the pacific is making a number of nations sweat, especially the Japanese.

I think we all could've lived without that glimpse of your leisure time activities.

When I visit Lancaster, I'm definitely not allowing my daughter to go to the playground then......

isn't that how Britain and Germany got pissy with each other circa 1914?

It was a factor.

And some have compared China today to pre World War One Germany.

A nation with a rising population and economy. Growing military power that thinks the existing major powers are trying to "keep them down" and prevent them from taking their "rightful place" among the world powers.

Ironically, some have also compared todays Russia to pre World War Two Germany.

Humiliated by defeat. Eager for payback. Willing to embrace despots that promise a return to the glory days.

So it is entirely possible that in the 2020-2030 time frame we could have a nation like pre WWI Germany and one like pre WWII Germany.

Simultaneously-

And both with nuclear weapons.

And us with a rusted, collapsing military.

It's not just Obama. Republicans, the current bunch, are only slightly better then that fuck up sitting in the White House.

I predict that within 20 years both South Korea and Japan will be working on or already have nukes in their possession. Especially the Japanese.

I also predict that if the USA continues on its downward spiral we will see Japan step up to the plate and start a huge military buildup if only to protect themselves since we obviously will not be able to help them.

And without the ability to reverse that trend in a hurry if the need arises.

^ In 1940 or so Yamamoto warned of waking the sleeping industrial giant. Now, he'd be laughing his ass off at such a fear.

I think you give the GOP far too much credit.

I'm not sure that is too likely given that the Japanese are facing a huge demographic train wreck in that time period (an average population that is very old).

Nukes can make up for a lot of old people.

No I don't. They are better then the Democrats and Obama when it comes to the military. Not by much but there is a difference.

Nuclear weapons are like threesomes.

Nice to have the option but in real life no one ever really uses them.

The U.S. lost over 100,000 killed by conventional means during the Cold War without ever seriously considering nuclear weapons use.

I doubt the Japanese (especially with their history of aversion to nuclear weapons for obvious reasons) would be any more willing to brandish them.

Bullshit. McCain was against the bill to expand GI benefits, its been the Republicans (for the most part) who've tried to keep gays out of the military, it was Rumsfeld who kept cutting the number of troops and equipment needed to go into Iraq and Afghanistan, and the list goes on and on. The Republicans are willing to plunk down money for shiny new toys, but they won't shell out the money to make sure those toys work correctly or make sure that the men and women who put themselves in harms way are well taken care of.

So long as people continue to think that one party is superior to another political party, this country is never going to get better.

Slightly better doesn't equal superior to the other party dipshit.

If margins are essential, then it does. When it comes to things like the military and the survival of the nation, margins are essential.

How about asserting your grammar muscle, Krieg?

I agree. If something isn't done soon to redress the equipment issue we currently have, there's a good possibility your statement could come true.


Oh, and shut the fuck up, Actressmike.

Russia is also supposed to be building 6 new nuclear carriers.

Not anymore.
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Se...ircraft-carriers-building/UPI-38401292018235/

Huh. On a related note, that was part of how the British Navy was initially dismantled.

As far back as the end of WWI, the Brits could no longer afford to rule the waves (not that the US could either), so they, the US, the Germans, the Japs, and probably some other of the world powers, got together periodically, to artificially restrict how big a battleships could be built.

Be interesting to see the US scale back its navy and other nations follow suit.





Of course during the interwar period the Hun & Jap designed ships with the intent of blowing the crap out of treaty limitations by retrofitting them once hostilities were initiated (or it was determined that the US and Brits wouldn't do shit about it).

It's truly fascinating how the japanese built a 'shadow fleet' of ships ready to be converted into into different types of more important ships.

K, I'll contribute. I'm not worried in the least by China building aircraft carriers. They're an independent nation and have the right to build whatever they want to build. I also don't see them starting a war with the US or anyone else. It doesn't benefit them in the least.

Taiwan.