In mid-June, China’s third aircraft carrier “Fujian” was officially launched. This is the third aircraft carrier launched by China after the Liaoning and Shandong, and the second aircraft carrier independently developed by China.
This news, which is considered epoch-making by the outside world, has attracted global attention. The carrier, named after China’s Fujian across Taiwan, uses electromagnetic catapult technology, which Chinese media reports say can not only provide a stronger boost for fighter jets to take off, but also allow more aircraft to take off at the same time.
The technology has previously been implemented on the 11th search aircraft carrier owned by the United States, but it is the first time that it has been put into use for a Chinese-made aircraft carrier.
Behind China’s aggressive push to build aircraft carriers, what signals have Beijing’s moves sent? And what does the “Fujian Ship” mean to Australia and even the Indo-Pacific region?
“Game changer”?
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Chinese state media quoted AFP as saying the technology employed by the “Fujian ship” was a “game changer” for the Chinese navy.
According to the “Observer Network” report, this aircraft carrier has created all kinds of firsts in China’s naval power: “the largest warship built by the new China, the largest warship ever built in Asia, and the largest aircraft carrier in the world except the United States.”
At the same time, China also stated that it will try to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a larger tonnage on the basis of the “Fujian Ship” to shorten the distance from the United States.
The Washington Post said in a report that the acceleration of China’s military construction is actually at a critical point of directly challenging the US military superiority in the Asia-Pacific region.
However, Sam Roggeveen, a Chinese military expert at the Lowy Institute, said he does not believe China’s aircraft carrier construction is intended to challenge the United States.
“If the carrier is meant to fight the Americans, it will backfire,” Mr Rokiwen told the ABC in Chinese.
The so-called capital ship actually refers to the most important warships in the navies of various countries, while anti-ship missiles refer to missiles that can be launched from the sea, land and air towards ships, which have a direct threat of damage to warships.
Mr. Luo Jiwen said that Beijing is very aware of this, because China has developed many such systems itself, so that the United States cannot threaten the Chinese coast. He also believes that U.S. interest in Asia is not enough to warrant a real war between Washington and China.
He believes that China’s development of aircraft carriers is not a real weapon, but a security weapon that can be called maintaining order. Once China takes control of Asia, the aircraft carrier will help Beijing maintain its dominance in the region.
Is Xi Jinping in Taiwan?
Last Tuesday, shortly after the launch of the “Fujian Ship”, 29 Chinese military aircraft, including bombers, entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone again. It is the latest development in cross-strait tensions since late May.
As early as when the name of the “Fujian Ship” was announced, the outside world had already made a variety of speculations about its and Taiwan Strait security issues. Some Taiwanese analysts believe that naming the carrier after a Chinese province across from Taiwan underscores Beijing’s desire to use it to deter Taiwan.
Hu Xijin, the former editor of China’s state-run tabloid Global Times, posted on Weibo that he agreed with the speculation.
“The third aircraft carrier was supposed to be called the Jiangsu ship, but skipping Jiangsu and Zhejiang and calling it the Fujian ship directly is a warning to Taiwan independence,” Hu Xijin wrote.
“Let’s gradually build the aircraft carrier that should be built. The perspective of the United States and its allies on China will naturally change, and the way they deal with China will also be reconsidered,” Hu Xijin said.
Dr. John Garrick, a senior lecturer at Charles Darwin University, pointed out that the symbolism of the name Fujian Province is “no accident” as it faces Taiwan across the sea.
“Of course it’s a gesture, it’s providing a narrative for China’s intentions,” Dr Gakri told ABC Chinese, adding that the launch of the “Fujian ship” was not just about Taiwan, but about China’s “global authority”.
Dr Gakri said the Fujian ship’s consolidation of Xi Jinping’s power was reflected in China’s expanding military capabilities, including testing heavy armaments, nuclear weapons and building an arsenal.
“The ‘Fujian Ship’ aircraft carrier is just a small piece of the puzzle, and it is one of the[中国]The strategy of becoming a global power is closely related. “
How is Australia responding?
Australia, in the southern hemisphere, is closely watching China’s growing military might. Last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trips to several Pacific island nations caught the attention of newly appointed Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Prime Minister Albanese.
At the time, Albanese told the media: “We need to respond to this, and China is looking to increase its influence in the Pacific region. Australia has been the security partner of choice in this region since World War II.”
Dr Garrick pointed out that Australia needs to rely more on diplomatic strategy to counter China’s military authority.
He said Australia was a middle power country and, like countries such as Canada, middle power countries had to use diplomacy and alliances to build their power.
Mr. Luo Jiwen believes that, unlike Taiwan, Australia, which is located in the southern hemisphere, still has natural geographical advantages in the face of China’s military ambitions.
“Australia’s biggest defensive asset is distance, we’re very far from China. And we have a very favorable geographic environment, which makes it very difficult for any adversary to attack us,” Mr Rockywen said.
However, in his view, Australia’s current defense strategy, especially the construction of nuclear submarines, seems unwise.
The nuclear submarine program, he said, relies on large, expensive, but limited numbers of ships to guard thousands of kilometers of coastline. In contrast, he agrees more with the “porcupine theory” currently adopted in Taiwan.
The so-called “porcupine” theory means that the Taiwan Relations Act does not constrain the United States to defend Taiwan, and the United States needs to provide Taiwan with the ability to defend itself.
“[台湾]There is less emphasis on large weapons systems, such as large surface ships, fighter jets, and more on smaller, more mobile and more flexible systems,” explained Mr.
ABC foreign affairs analyst Stan Grant wrote in previous analysis that the US has announced more than $20 billion in arms sales to Taiwan over the past decade – part of a “porcupine strategy” to “adequate Arming Taiwan to deter Chinese aggression”.