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PDF(2.7mb) - 國家政策研究基金會

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178 Taiwan Development Perspectives 2009<br />

enormous budget fund to build such a fleet and acquires<br />

overseas bases to support its operation. One option is<br />

open to China. The PLAN may build a superior asymmetrical<br />

force, such as a nuclear attack submarine fleet,<br />

to do part of the job so as to protect China’s greatest<br />

national interests with the help of other sea powers who<br />

wish to uphold the freedom of navigation principle of<br />

the United Nations.<br />

But the question remains: What if the intent is<br />

not purely to defend the sea lanes? 24<br />

Aircraft Carriers and Blue-Water Navy<br />

1. Extension of Force to the Second Island<br />

Chain<br />

In November 2008, a surface action group of the<br />

North Sea Fleet of the PLAN entered the Sea of Japan,<br />

crossed the Tsugaru Strait, and sailed into the North<br />

Pacific Ocean to conduct an anti-submarine and surface<br />

interception exercise. The group consisted of four ships,<br />

including a 051C class missile destroyer. Soon after the<br />

exercise, another task group from the East Sea Fleet led<br />

by a Soveremnny class missile destroyer followed the<br />

same route to hold a fleet exercise in the North Pacific.<br />

The exercises marked the second and the third times<br />

the PLAN warships passed through the Tsugaru Strait.<br />

The first passage took place when a survey ship crossed<br />

the strait for data collection. The passages of the warships<br />

aroused the concern of Japan and the United<br />

States.<br />

They are concerned that the exercises took place<br />

beyond China’s first island chain and the PLAN is<br />

reaching out to the second island chain. If so, China<br />

may be planning to develop a blue-water navy.<br />

2. Evolution of the PLAN into a Blue-Water<br />

Navy<br />

China’s most critical geopolitical weakness lies in<br />

its lack of enough sea power to protect the sea lanes for<br />

its crude oil supply and foreign trade. 25 It needs a navy<br />

to safeguard the sea lanes as the economic globalization<br />

continues.<br />

The PLAN cannot cope with the navies of the<br />

United States, Japan and India that may choke China’s<br />

vital sea lanes from the East China Sea to the Middle<br />

East through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean,<br />

if they so choose. The PLAN needs long-range operation<br />

capabilities.<br />

In fact, Admirals Xiao Jinguang and Liu<br />

Huaqing have long complained: “We can do nothing, if<br />

we have only small and medium-sized short-range<br />

ships and share-based air force in the face of an enemy<br />

who has long-range combat capabilities and can deploy<br />

ballistic missile submarines and a carrier-based air<br />

force.” 26<br />

But China has continued to adhere to the policy of<br />

not acquiring a blue-water navy, which can operate in<br />

any ocean of the world. 27<br />

3. Construction of Aircraft Carriers<br />

25 The US intelligence agency related activity analyzes<br />

China to make the aircraft carrier motive peripheral<br />

situation to compel, http://www.chinareviewnews.<br />

com , Dec. 28, 2007<br />

26 The concept of Chinese aircraft carrier of two generation<br />

Command in Chief of PLAN ADM. Xiao<br />

Jin-guang and ADM. Liu Huaqing in. WorldForum.com<br />

Nov.19, 2008<br />

27 Chinese Maritime Strategy, Chapter 7, The PLA<br />

24 Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Gary<br />

Roughhead: Why Does China Need That Navy? By<br />

Richard Halloran, THE WASHINGTON TIMES,<br />

August 26, 2005<br />

Navy and “Active Defense” Bernard D. Cole, The<br />

PLA and China in transition, Stephen J. Flanagan and<br />

Michael E. Marti. National Security Studies, NDU,<br />

2003

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