How much (and how) is the Chinese Navy growing
During 2021, the Chinese navy put 22 combat ships into service. An in-depth study by Giovanni Martinelli
A year has just ended and, in some way, it is even becoming inevitable to draw up balance sheets; a sort of "rule" that has not failed to comply with even in China which, in fact, has also ended up applying it to the review of some of the main events that affected the Navy of that country in 2021.
In reality, all of this was not even "celebrated" on the official channels of the Beijing regime; which also does not disdain the celebration of the results achieved in terms of war capacity. Instead, a simple "post" on a Chinese social platform, with little information and just as few images (of those generated by the computer), and then quickly spread on other social networks and international sites, was enough to provide a picture that is as clear as it is strong.
Quickly summarized in a simple list; apparently thin but, in reality, full of content. During 2021, the Chinese Navy (also known as the PLA Navy) put 22 combat ships into service. In detail, these are 2 large Type 075 amphibious assault units, 3 Type 055 destroyers (actually, for characteristics / operational capabilities, of cruisers), 7 Type 052D destroyers, 9 Type 056A corvettes and a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. Type 094A.
In reality, the final toll is even higher; given that at least another ten or so minor and / or auxiliary units should be added. But even if we limit ourselves (so to speak …) to those indicated in the list, we still reach a total of over 170,000 tons of overall displacement.
To give a reference, the US Navy, again in 2021, put into service no more than 3 combat ships (plus other minor and / or auxiliary), for a total of about 17,000 tons. In practice, just one-tenth of the PLA Navy!
And although it may be objected that similar comparisons based on a time span of only one year (influenced by multiple contingent factors) are not very reliable, it will be sufficient to put the whole question of numbers into perspective to better understand what is happening. In fact, in 2000, the most reliable estimates indicated about 120 ships in service in the Chinese Navy; 20 years later they had already become 360 and in 2030 it is estimated that they could be at least 425. In the same period (2000 – 2030, in fact) the size of the US Navy should remain almost unchanged, around the number of 300 ships; or a little more.
But what the numbers fail to tell is the no less important qualitative growth of the PLA Navy itself. Because the new units put into service not only have increasingly important overall dimensions / characteristics; moreover, there is clearly a significant increase in the operational capabilities of each individual platform.
All elements that therefore bring out yet another datum; the development process of the Chinese military instrument no longer aims only at opposing the United States (and allied countries) in the Indo-Pacific region alone; while increasing its power in this area of the world.
By now, the aspirations are quite different; effectively summarized in the famous statement by the Secretary General of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping who, in 2017, publicly gave the order to modernize the Armed Forces of Beijing, with the aim of having a military power of his own within the middle of the century defined as "world-class". A concept apparently vague but which, in reality, has a very specific meaning: to become exactly the first military power in the world. Within which the air and naval capabilities of the Chinese Navy will play a fundamental role.
But if 2021 has been a big year for the PLA Navy, it's easy to predict that 2022 won't be outdone. In fact, other amphibious assault ships and new destroyers will be put into service; in addition, numerous new Type 054A frigates will arrive, destined to become the backbone of the fleet. On the other hand, the developments in the underwater component are more "mysterious" even if China continues to develop both nuclear and conventional boats.
But above all, this will be the year of the launch of the first Type 003 "super-aircraft carrier". After the previous 2 similar units but with relatively limited characteristics / capabilities, its appearance (as it is directly comparable to the analogous US Navy platforms) will represent another step towards what we could define the full "maturity" of the Chinese Navy.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/cina-marina-crescita/ on Sat, 08 Jan 2022 07:04:12 +0000.