With the commissioning of the Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, military analysts from the United States are re-evaulating the combat capability of the Chinese navy in the future, reports our sister newspaper Want Daily.
In an article titled "Five 'Flattops' for China" in the Diplomat, a current affairs magazine covering the Asia-Pacific based in Japan, James R Holmes, an associate professor from the United States Naval War College, described the strategic thinking outlined by PLA Major General Wang Haiyun for China to establish five carrier battle groups in the future. Holmes said Wang believes five carrier battle groups will be needed for the PLA Navy to police the three million square kilometers of maritime territory to which China lays claim. A force like this can also help China to break out of US-led containment in the Asia-Pacific region and "avoid being subject to the blackmail of certain countries," according to Wang.
Read the full story at Want China Times