I can see the logic of them following the E-2 tailplane path because it removes complications of folding fins, rudders etc. The change from a contra rotating prop to a single prop removes another set of complications of an extra gearbox in the drive train of each engine.
thats only if China start much aggressively target everybody, i doubt china is that stupid to do that. They are still negotiating code of conduct. so far phillippine already bent to china, malaysia is typically have decent relationship with china, singapore is more neutral, indonesia/vietnam has more issue with china but still rely trading with china, cambodia is more friendly toward china. Thailand is purchasing weapon from china and got alot tourist from mainland. beside each of them on their own has dispute against each others.
Pentagon Report: China Now Has World’s Largest Navy as Beijing Expands Military Influence - USNI News
China is bent on creating a world-class military that can conduct joint operations across the globe and already boasts the world’s largest navy, according to the Pentagon’s latest annual assessment of the Chinese military. A “permanent condition of military inferiority is anathema” to China’s...news.usni.org
Well, as biggest fleet actually PLAN already achieve that for sometime. However the biggest fleet with increasingly blue water capabilities, that PLAN still struggling to achieve.
Thus with the latest strive at least in this decade, they're seems going to achieve that also.
Still this also run a question how they are going to achieve effective blue water operation. With increasingly aggressive behavior of PLAN and their quasi Navy the coast guards toward Chinese immediate neighbors, this will create increase spending for Navy in neighborhood.
If I see the Chinese Forums, those idiots ten cents seems only think the opposition for PLAN only come from USN. They're so sure without USN the rest of neighbors will meek down to mighty Chinese will and demand in the sea.
They're seems not graped the idea even without USN the neighbors will combine themselves toward China. The thinking of the more aggressive PLA/PLAF/PLAN will automatically delivered everyone to China demand.
This's kind of thinking that Third Reich hold. Those Chinese Nationalistics grass roots seems not conceiving the idea that combination of their neighbors Navy in the sea still have enough force to dettered PLAN access to Indies and Western Pacific. The idea of the rest of their Neighbors will submit to China whims without US support, seems ingrained in the head of those idiots.
How they're thinking that making adversarial reaction to China neighbors still ok, as long as they 'buy' friend in Africa, Iran, and South America. Those Chinese new friends can not be reach by China without access through their Neighbors.
Hope cooler heads still available in Chinese Administration, although with current administration in China, I have doubt on their continue prevailing.
When can we realistically expect China to reach FOC on a CATOBAR Carrier with a full on Air Wing? Unless they are a lot more progressed then has been reported, then we are probably looking at somewhere around 2038-40 at best
1. How would you explain plans/doctrinal discussions on how to attack other littoral islands in the South China Sea (1st island chain) and the Pacific (2nd island chain) that are published in China’s military academies as campaign studies? The development of China’s operational campaign doctrine suggest that the PLA(N) has carefully studied how to create the conditions needed for fighting and winning against other claimants over these small islands and coral reefs.
i'm sure there are country do some maneuvering like you mentioned. but an united ASEAN Aggressively against China. I dont think that will happen soon, unless china start invading islands left/right. Japan is also worry about China, and continue to arm itself, but still keep a decent relationship with China due to been one of their biggest trading partner. ASEAN/Japan/Skorea will only tolerate certain level of aggression from china, appropriate action have appropriate response. With US-China current situation, +india, last thing China want right now is alienated ASEAN/Japan/SKorea. So i see china continue arm up their bases in ScS, building ships, some fishing fleet issues etc, but these action not gonna push every ASEAN together and aggressively against China. i dont think they are going do a FON into 12 nm of chinese claimed island like US did right now.Seems from your posts, you're more see the belligerent action by Chinese only to ASEAN. In reality the Chinese actions already bring out reverse response from many of it's neighbors.
The Growing Indo-Pacific Dimension in Indonesia-Australia Relations
A recent interaction highlighted the convergences between the two countries in the wider strategic space amid continued challenges and limits.thediplomat.com
This's an example, the idea of Indonesia, India and Australia put common stances, few years ago will be unthinkable. Both Indonesia and India has guard their respective 'independence' foreign policies, and putting similar standing with US close allies like Australia will be unthinkable.
However they're now talking due to common interest on how to cope with rising China. You're not talking on that scenarios if the neighbors are not worries with China behavior.
All three have big trade and Investment with China. Economically China importance are continue rising for all three of them.
This can potentially also bring Japan and South Korea interest later on. Both are wary to each other, and only US so far that can mediated both of them. However now both of them also have to think their increasingly common concern, the Chinese behavior.
China seems think that with Economics dependence of their neighbors on Chinese market and investment, means they will also willing to let China aggresive action.
This's which so far shown adverse action. Perhaps you're right, some of the smaller neighbors like Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand or even Malaysia will take more or less submissive position. However Vietnam not showing that, and other bigger economics neighbors, so far showing more adversarial response than what China hope for.
Ananda, I don't think the trust is eroding, I think the trust has gone and will never return. Certainly that's the feeling in Australia. The pro China lobby has gone almost completely silent.
@weaponwh I remember my history and on 21st June 1941 the Soviet Union's biggest trading partner was National Socialist Germany. In the early hours of the morning of 22nd June 1941 Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa; the invasion of the Soviet Union and for 6 days Stalin went into a really deep depression and didn't do anything about the Nazis rolling his forces back across the Russian motherland. The Russians had trains delivering goods to the Germans as German forces pushed across the border of German occupied Poland into Russian occupied Poland. So just because nations may trade with one another and have economic ties, doesn't preclude them from going to war against each other. War is a political statement and the CCP will be making a political statement first and foremost, because the marxist dialectic demands that. Everything that the CCP does ALWAYS has a political dimension.i'm sure there are country do some maneuvering like you mentioned. but an united ASEAN Aggressively against China. I dont think that will happen soon, unless china start invading islands left/right. Japan is also worry about China, and continue to arm itself, but still keep a decent relationship with China due to been one of their biggest trading partner. ASEAN/Japan/Skorea will only tolerate certain level of aggression from china, appropriate action have appropriate response. With US-China current situation, +india, last thing China want right now is alienated ASEAN/Japan/SKorea. So i see china continue arm up their bases in ScS, building ships, some fishing fleet issues etc, but these action not gonna push every ASEAN together and aggressively against China. i dont think they are going do a FON into 12 nm of chinese claimed island like US did right now.
the 3 countries you mention are not in good term with China right now. but ASEAN is more than just indonesia.
China may even try to cozy up ASEAN due to ongoing geopolitical situation. which i think is opportunity for ASEAN/Japan/SKorea. they could benefit from trade war.
also many these countries buying arms from China including indonesia, if diplomatic situation is bad, i doubt these sells will happen.
1938 Britain and Germany were each others largest trading partners. Closeness usually brings conflict as any married person can attest to.
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