i read in a news article somewhere that a Chinese patrol in the South China Sea threatened an Indian vessel on its way to Vietnam. yup, China is flexing its military and political muscle and will get way with it.

Originally Posted by palaweno22

i read in a news article somewhere that a Chinese patrol in the South China Sea threatened an Indian vessel on its way to Vietnam. yup, China is flexing its military and political muscle and will get way with it.

The Indian vessel didn't bother and sailed on. It will get very interesting in the future between those two navies.

Originally Posted by jogonmd95

The Chicoms have been belligerent lately in our neck of the woods(Spratleys). Now, having an aircraft carrier would be used to further increase their influence/threatening stance on the region.When the US bases were here during the 60-80s the chinese dare not approach the Philippine seas. Wish they were here again. I curse our senators that kicked out the bases in the 90s. No foresight what so ever.
Joe

Regardless as to what china's intention on the carrier might be, this sino-phili incident was instigated by ur country. i suggest u do some research before expressing ur biased opinion. ignorant hurt when naive and laziness combined.

Us carriers use a steam and in the future carrier an electromagnetic catapult. Russia doesn't, so they need the ramp to get aircraft aloft.

It's like the old cowboy saying "it's not the Indians you see it's the One's you don't see". I've read we're china is building two more.

Originally Posted by fypi

anyway, to add to the topic of aircraft carriers, i think malaysia and thailand also have an aircraft carrier each. its likely more for prestige same as china, except that for china its also definitely building for the future.

Thailand has one- but it is more used as logistic support ship rather than what it is supposed to be... financial issues...

Malaysia has none...

The thing about this issue of aircreaft carriers is this- everyone is using the USN as a yardstick. Becasue USN maintained a fleet of carriers, everyone think they should have one- China is one of them...

The US, Brits, French and even the Aussies had experience in carrier operations. The Indian NAvy inherited this too from the Brits. Russia had some expereince in this, and so therefore the Chinese want some of it, too...

For the USN, it is part of their strategic planning to have carriers. For some, it is just to show that they too, can have a carrier. Thailand is a good example...

For china to have a real carrier capability, in terms of operation and management, it will take some time...

Don't forget Brazil also has one.

Originally Posted by Cire

Don't forget Brazil also has one.

Since you've mentioned that, Argentina has one too...

This is what I mean exactly, because one has a carrier, the other guy must have one too...

This carrier issue, is a case of what you want, as compared to what you really need...

The question, coming back to this topic, does China really need a carrier...?

Originally Posted by viper2007

Since you've mentioned that, Argentina has one too...

This is what I mean exactly, because one has a carrier, the other guy must have one too...

This carrier issue, is a case of what you want, as compared to what you really need...

The question, coming back to this topic, does China really need a carrier...?

Often reminds one of the battleship game of the 1920's and 30's, everyone had to have a symbol of national power and prestige so they invested in their own battleship programs. Even when the world economy crashed nations still focused on launching new vessels of questionable use during the next war they were intended to fight.

Argentina use to have two, last one decommissioned in 1997. Interesting fact, during WWII it had the 8th largest navy now it's in the thirties.