Is China Building Up A Naval Presence Near Syria?

GULF OF ADEN (Xinhua) -- A marine observes the situation on the sea at the dock landing ship “Jing Gangshan” of the 15th Escort Taskforce of the Chinese Navy in the Gulf of Aden. This is the first implementation of the joint convoy mission of the 14th and the 15th Escort Taskforce of the Chinese Navy. XINHUA PHOTO - LIANG SHUN

WNU Editor: The western media have not confirmed reports that the Chinese are sending their amphibious assault warship, the CNS (Chinese Navy Ship) Jing Gangshan to the Mediterranean to observe U.S. and Russian warships. But if true .... this will be the largest Chinese deployment in the Middle East in its naval history.

Some links that are reporting this Chinese deployment ....

A Chinese landing craft with 1,000 marines for Syria – reports -- Debka
Chinese, Russian warships and Marines heading to Syrian waters -- Examiner
US, Russia, and China Increase Naval Presence Off Syria -- Everything PR

China’s amphibious troop ship Jinggangshan. EverythingPR

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China 'Passes Off Battlestar Galactica As It's Newest Aircraft Carrier'

How the Chinese agency used the graphic, originally created by Zoic Studios

China: News Site 'Passes Off Battlestar Galactica As Aircraft Carrier' -- BBC

Design images of sci-fi favourite Battlestar Galactica were apparently used by a Chinese state website to illustrate an article about aircraft carriers.

The Japanese-language version of the official China Internet Information Centre used the image under the headline Four Major Trends in Aircraft Carrier Development and it was spotted by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. The original article focuses on developments in carrier vessels' missile defence systems, stealth fighters, automated drones and electromagnetic catapults.

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Update: Chinese News Site Boasts Futuristic Aircraft Carriers With Battlestar Galactica Images -- Epoch Times

My Comment: I cannot make this up.

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Is China Building An Aircraft Carrier In Secret?

Is China Building An “Aircraft Carrier In Disguise?” -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

Earlier this month a series of pictures posted on Chinese military forums appeared to show that China was building its first indigenous aircraft carrier, prompting much speculation and commentary including from The Diplomat.

Now some claim that this narrative might have been mistaken.

According to Japan’s Kyodo News, Kanwa Information Center, a private Canadian think tank, has published a report that claims that the pictures do not show an aircraft carrier. Instead, the Kanwa report—which is based on Ukraine military sources— says the vessel under construction is China’s first amphibious assault ship capable of carrying hovercraft and helicopters.

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My Comment: At 35,000 tons that is one big ship .... and there are more ships .... with more tonnage .... in the pipeline.

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Just How Strong Is China's navy?

Photo: Reuters

Red Tide -- James Holmes, Foreign Policy

Just how strong is China's navy, really?

In late July, Chinese President Xi Jinping shared his views on sea power and maritime territorial disputes. Beijing is amenable to "shelving disputes and carrying out joint development" in waters such as the South China Sea, where, according to the official line, it enjoys "indisputable sovereignty." It will employ "peaceful means and negotiations to settle disputes and strive to safeguard peace and stability," but it won't "abandon its legitimate rights and interests." Beijing asserts sovereignty over the waters, islands, and atolls within what it calls the "nine-dashed line," a line that encloses the vast majority of the South China Sea, including huge swaths of the exclusive economic zones belonging to Southeast Asian states.

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My Comment: I have mentioned on many occasions in this blog that China's goal is to be the regional superpower in Asia. In this respect .... their navy is on track to be just that in the next decade or two.

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