Commentary
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is learning how to deploy its conventionally powered aircraft carriers for political intimidation and potential combat missions. While they do not match the capabilities of larger and better-armed U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, it is a mistake to diminish their potential threat.
This was the thrust of a May 5 Reuters article with a declarative headline, “China’s aircraft carriers play ‘theatrical’ role but pose little threat yet.”
The article states, “It could be more than a decade before China can mount a credible carrier threat far from its shores, according to four military attachés and six defence analysts familiar with regional naval deployments.”…