Old Idea, New Reality

[JALU3]

Story Source

Report: Chinese Develop Special "Kill Weapon" to Destroy U.S. Aircraft Carriers
Advanced missile poses substantial new threat for U.S. Navy

U. S. Naval Institute
March 31, 2009

With tensions already rising due to the Chinese navy becoming more aggressive in asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy seems to have yet another reason to be deeply concerned.
After years of conjecture, details have begun to emerge of a "kill weapon" developed by the Chinese to target and destroy U.S. aircraft carriers.
First posted on a Chinese blog viewed as credible by military analysts and then translated by the naval affairs blog Information Dissemination, a recent report provides a description of an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) that can strike carriers and other U.S. vessels at a range of 2000km.

Relating to the USNS Impeccable incident, what happens if Beijing becomes more forceful about their claims to the South East China Sea, and other maritime claims? China is said to be planning to have an operational CV by mid 2010s, have started to produce Generation 4.5 fighters domestically, and have increased their overall naval, as well as amphibous, capability by leaps and bounds over the past 20 years. In response RoK & JSDF are continuing an ambitious production schedule of AEGIS capable Destroyer.

What are we looking at here? Is this the arms build up leading to an eventual confrontation ... or is this only saber rattling?

[PeriscopeDepth]

It is the ChiComs wanting to have the capabilities that they can afford. They see themselves as a rising major international player, perhaps even on par with the United States in a decades' or two time.

It's no surprise that they want the military muscle to go with it, and if needed compete militarily with other major players (e.g., us).

PD