China with its second aircraft carrier Shandong, which was recently observed patrolling waters near the Philippine coast. This comes as Manila intensifies efforts to assert its territorial claims over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, against Beijing’s counterclaims.
The state-run Global Times had noted that Shandong has displaced about 70,000 tons making it a deterrence against ‘continuous Philippine provocations’ on Chinese islands and reefs in the region. According to Chinese experts, such deployment is part of a scheduled exercise potentially preparing it for a voyage into the West Pacific.
What follows is some major surface combat ships deployed by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the South China Sea including large and medium destroyers as well as main amphibious landing ship amid escalating maritime territorial conflicts with Manila.
This passage acts as warning to both Manila and Washington says Ni Lexiong, defense professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law emphasizing ‘China’s determination to protect territorial sea sovereignty’ during increased tension over Second Thomas Shoal.
“We know that once we see massive military force that means Beijing is preparing for war,” he said Chester Cabalza president and founder of International Development and Security Cooperation a Manila based think tank adding it was an example of “performative politics” by Beijing.
The latest confrontation between China and Philippines marked another violent twist to their territorial claims in South China Sea; last month naval ships from both countries collided marking the first incident after China introduced new rules relating foreign vessels which can be detained if they are suspected to have violated Chinese water.
This included collision between Philippines naval ship and Chinese vessel near Second Thomas Shoal. Over recent months navies and coast guards from both countries have faced off as the Philippines backed by US attempted to assert its claim over contested area.
Most of south china sea is claimed by china though this has been challenged by Philippines Malaysia Vietnam Brunei Taiwan among others. The Philippine allegations were that in 1999 China deliberately ran aground a naval ship at the Second Thomas Shoal which led to the conversion of damaged ship into a permanent installation occupied by naval personnel.
This is based on a tribunal ruling in 2016 under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) supporting its rights as argued by Philippines supported by US. However, China boycotted this tribunal and it rejected its findings insisting on its claims.
China has recently enacted a new law consistent with her strategy allowing her coast guard to seize foreign ships that enter China’s territorial waters illegally and detain their crews for up to 60 days. This also involves use of force against foreign vessels where necessary.
In response, US has deployed medium range Typhon missile systems in the Philippines thereby expressing support for Manila’s territorial claims. Additionally, Philippines has imported BrahMos missiles from India. China now has two aircraft carriers: Liaoning (a refit of a Soviet-era ship) and Shandong (an indigenously built carrier commissioned in 2019). Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, is currently undergoing trials having displacement of 80,000 tons.
According to the media, Fujian is a fully developed and built carrier in China with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) like America’s USS Gerald R. Ford. While Liaoning and Shandong have ski-jump take-off ramps, Fujian has a flat-top flight deck.
China’s aircraft carriers are equipped with locally made J-15s.
