How 中国's new Fujian 航空機 運送/保菌者 could challenge the US 海軍

宣伝

China today launched the first sea trials for the nation's most advanced aircraft carrier that President Xi Jinping hopes will form the basis of his plan to transform his People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a world-class fighting force. The start of maritime tests by the Chinese navy this morning came nearly two years after the mammoth vessel, named the Fujian, was first unveiled in June 2022. Entirely designed and built domestically, the Fujian is considerably larger and more advanced than China's two existing aircraft carriers - the Shandong, commissioned in late 2019 and based on the Liaoning, a Soviet-era carrier that China bought second-hand from Ukraine .

中国 today 開始する,打ち上げるd the first sea 裁判,公判s for the nation's most 前進するd 航空機 運送/保菌者 that 大統領 Xi Jinping hopes will form the basis of his 計画(する) to transform his People's 解放 Army (PLA) into a world-class fighting 軍隊. The start of 海上の 実験(する)s by the Chinese 海軍 this morning (機の)カム nearly two years after the mammoth 大型船, 指名するd the Fujian, was first 明かすd in June 2022. 完全に designed and built 国内で, the Fujian is かなり larger and more 前進するd than 中国's two 存在するing 航空機 運送/保菌者s - the Shandong, (売買)手数料,委託(する)/委員会/権限d in late 2019 and based on the Liaoning, a Soviet-時代 運送/保菌者 that 中国 bought second-手渡す from ウクライナ共和国 .

Displacing some 80,000 tons of water and measuring a whopping 1036 feet (316 meters) in length, the gargantuan craft features a full-length flight deck with an advanced catapult-launch system for jets - and, in a not-so-subtle gesture, takes its name from the Chinese province opposite democratically governed Taiwan. Able to carry up to 40 fighter jets - plus anti-submarine helicopters, drones and other transport - it is cast as a rival to the USS Gerald Ford, the world's most advanced aircraft carrier and the pride of America's Navy. The Fujian's launch to sea comes as experts sounded the alarm over Beijing's efforts to buy up gold at record rates - and dump hundreds of billions of dollars in US bonds - amid fears China is preparing to safeguard its economy against Western sanctions ahead of a possible invasion of the island.

追い出すing some 80,000 トンs of water and 手段ing a whopping 1036 feet (316 メーターs) in length, the gargantuan (手先の)技術 features a 十分な-length flight deck with an 前進するd catapult-開始する,打ち上げる system for jets - and, in a not-so-subtle gesture, takes its 指名する from the Chinese 州 opposite 民主的に 治める/統治するd Taiwan. Able to carry up to 40 闘士,戦闘機 jets - 加える anti-潜水艦 ヘリコプターs, drones and other 輸送(する) - it is cast as a 競争相手 to the USS Gerald Ford, the world's most 前進するd 航空機 運送/保菌者 and the pride of America's 海軍. The Fujian's 開始する,打ち上げる to sea comes as 専門家s sounded the alarm over Beijing's 成果/努力s to buy up gold at 記録,記録的な/記録する 率s - and 捨てる hundreds of billions of dollars in US 社債s - まっただ中に 恐れるs 中国 is 準備するing to 保護(する)/緊急輸入制限 its economy against Western 許可/制裁s ahead of a possible 侵略 of the island.

Ahead of its first sea test today the Fujian had been stationed at Shanghai's Jiangnan Shipyard undergoing stationary tests and adjustments. State TV reported the aircraft carrier had set out to sea just after 8 am (0000 GMT) this morning on its first seafaring voyage. China Daily quoted the PLA Navy (PLAN) as saying the carrier was 'among the most important military hardware' the country is developing, adding that the Fujian's test run at sea was intended to assess the 'reliability and stability of the carrier's propulsion and electric power systems.'?China's shipbuilders discounted nuclear power as a means of propulsion, meaning the Fujian will be slower and have a smaller range than the US' Ford-class aircraft carrier.

Ahead of its first sea 実験(する) today the Fujian had been 駅/配置するd at Shanghai's Jiangnan Shipyard を受けるing 静止している 実験(する)s and 調整s. 明言する/公表する TV 報告(する)/憶測d the 航空機 運送/保菌者 had 始める,決める out to sea just after 8 am (0000 GMT) this morning on its first seafaring voyage. 中国 Daily 引用するd the PLA 海軍 (PLAN) as 説 the 運送/保菌者 was 'の中で the most important 軍の 金物類/武器類' the country is developing, 追加するing that the Fujian's 実験(する) run at sea was ーするつもりであるd to 査定する/(税金などを)課す the 'reliability and 安定 of the 運送/保菌者's propulsion and electric 力/強力にする systems.'?中国's shipbuilders 割引d 核の 力/強力にする as a means of propulsion, meaning the Fujian will be slower and have a smaller 範囲 than the US' Ford-class 航空機 運送/保菌者.

But this decision also means the Fujian was cheaper, easier and faster to build, and is still equipped with three advanced electromagnetic catapults that can launch fully fueled and armed aircraft - technology that is currently only in use on a handful of US vessels and France's lone carrier. The Fujian has a much greater capacity than Paris' Charles De Gaulle and will be complemented by a horde of China's J-15B fighter jets along with its fearsome fifth-generation aircraft - the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31 stealth platforms. It was described by Alexander Neill, an expert on the Chinese military at the Pacific Forum, as Beijing's first proper carrier that builds upon the previous two platforms which constituted an 'experiment' in carrier operations.

But this 決定/判定勝ち(する) also means the Fujian was cheaper, easier and faster to build, and is still equipped with three 前進するd electromagnetic catapults that can 開始する,打ち上げる fully 燃料d and 武装した 航空機 - 科学(工学)技術 that is 現在/一般に only in use on a handful of US 大型船s and フラン's 孤独な 運送/保菌者. The Fujian has a much greater capacity than Paris' Charles De Gaulle and will be complemented by a horde of 中国's J-15B 闘士,戦闘機 jets along with its fearsome fifth-世代 航空機 - the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31 stealth 壇・綱領・公約s. It was 述べるd by Alexander Neill, an 専門家 on the Chinese 軍の at the 太平洋の 会議, as Beijing's first proper 運送/保菌者 that builds upon the previous two 壇・綱領・公約s which 構成するd an '実験' in 運送/保菌者 操作/手術s.

'The Liaoning helped the Chinese navy get into aircraft carrier operating mode for the first time... The Shandong was an experiment in gearing up the shipbuilding industry to supply the PLA Navy with these kinds of ships. 'Now, once they have the Fujian in service, they will be experimenting with carrier operations at scale and at pace,' he told the FT. The sea trials are a final step before the aircraft carrier is put into service by China's navy, a process that is expected to take up to a year. The Shandong conducted nine sea tests before it was commissioned.

'The Liaoning helped the Chinese 海軍 get into 航空機 運送/保菌者 operating 方式 for the first time... The Shandong was an 実験 in gearing up the shipbuilding 産業 to 供給(する) the PLA 海軍 with these 肉親,親類d of ships. 'Now, once they have the Fujian in service, they will be 実験ing with 運送/保菌者 操作/手術s a t 規模 and at pace,' he told the FT. The sea 裁判,公判s are a final step before the 航空機 運送/保菌者 is put into service by 中国's 海軍, a 過程 that is 推定する/予想するd to (問題を)取り上げる to a year. The Shandong 行為/行うd nine sea 実験(する)s before it was (売買)手数料,委託(する)/委員会/権限d.

But once all three are operating in a military capacity, China will boast the second-largest aircraft-carrying fleet in the world behind the US - and the fourth vessel, rumored to be a nuclear-powered variant - is already under development. The launch of the Fujian comes as China continues to stretch its year-and-a-half-long buying spree of gold, stocking up on the precious metal considered a stable, safe investment. A World Gold Council report said China now holds a stunning 2,262 tons of gold worth roughly $170.4 billion (£135 billion) - and Beijing in the meantime has offloaded more than $400 billion worth of US Treasury bonds since 2021.

But once all three are operating in a 軍の capacity, 中国 will 誇る the second-largest 航空機-carrying (n)艦隊/(a)素早い in the world behind the US - and the fourth 大型船, 噂するd to be a 核の-力/強力にするd variant - is already under 開発. The 開始する,打ち上げる of the Fujian comes as 中国 continues to stretch its year-and-a-half-long buying spree of gold, 在庫/株ing up on the precious metal considered a stable, 安全な 投資. A World Gold 会議 報告(する)/憶測 said 中国 now 持つ/拘留するs a 素晴らしい 2,262 トンs of gold 価値(がある) 概略で $170.4 billion (£135 billion) - and Beijing in the 合間 has offloaded more than $400 billion 価値(がある) of US 財務省 社債s since 2021.

There is also speculation that China holds significantly more gold reserves than the officially announced total. The concerted effort to invest in the historically stable asset while dropping huge amounts of US debt has led analysts to suggest China is seeking to reduce its dependency on the American dollar, which in turn would mitigate the impact of any Western-imposed economic sanctions. Jonathan Eyal, associate director at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think-tank, said of China's gold strategy: 'The relentless purchases and the sheer quantity are clear signs that this is a political project which is prioritized by the leadership in Beijing because of what they see is a looming confrontation wi
th the United States.

There is also 憶測 that 中国 持つ/拘留するs 意味ありげに more gold reserves than the 公式に 発表するd total. The 一致した 成果/努力 to 投資する in the 歴史的に stable 資産 while dropping 抱擁する 量s of US 負債 has led 分析家s to 示唆する 中国 is 捜し出すing to 減ずる its dependency on the American dollar, which in turn would mitigate the 衝撃 of any Western-課すd 経済的な 許可/制裁s. Jonathan Eyal, associate director at the 王室の 部隊d Services 学校/設ける (RUSI) think-戦車/タンク, said of 中国's gold 戦略: 'The relentless 購入(する)s and the sheer 量 are (疑いを)晴らす 調印するs that this is a political 事業/計画(する) which is prioritized by the leadership in Beijing because of what they see is a ぼんやり現れるing 対決 with the 部隊d 明言する/公表するs.

'Of course it's connected also to plans for a military invasion of Taiwan,' he told The Telegraph . He went on to speculate that China's move to diversify its investments and dump US debt was sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting torrent of Western sanctions levied against Moscow. More than $300 billion worth of Russian assets were frozen in Europe and the US - a huge financial blow as the Kremlin seeks to finance its ongoing war. John Reade, chief market strategist at the World Gold Council, said the sanctions against Russia's central bank sparked a flurry of gold-buying amid non-Western aligned countries and 'caused many non-aligned central banks to reconsider where they should hold their international reserves'.
< p class="imageCaption">'Of course it's connected also to 計画(する)s for a 軍の 侵略 of Taiwan,' he told The Telegraph . He went on to 推測する that 中国's move to diversify its 投資s and 捨てる US 負債 was 誘発するd by the ロシアの 侵略 of ウクライナ共和国 and the resulting 激流 of Western 許可/制裁s 徴収するd against Moscow. More than $300 billion 価値(がある) of ロシアの 資産s were frozen in Europe and the US - a 抱擁する 財政上の blow as the Kremlin 捜し出すs to 財政/金融 its 現在進行中の war. John Reade, 長,指導者 market strategist at the World Gold 会議, said the 許可/制裁s against Russia's central bank 誘発するd a flurry of gold-buying まっただ中に 非,不,無-Western 提携させるd countries and '原因(となる)d many 非,不,無-提携させるd central banks to 再考する where they should 持つ/拘留する their international reserves'.

China's relationship with the West, particularly its grand rival the United States, is rocky to say the least, and China's threatening posture towards Taiwan is just one of many pinch points. There have long been tensions between Beijing and Taipei but these have escalated considerably in recent years, with President Xi openly stating his desire to 'reunify' the island with the mainland, by force if necessary. Chinese military aircraft routinely embark on threatening sorties toward the island, and on Saturday sent almost two dozen aircraft over the Taiwan Strait with some crossing the sensitive median line separating the two territories. Taiwan's defense ministry said that from 9:30 am (0130 GMT) on Saturday it had detected 22 Chinese military aircraft, including Su-30 fighters, of which 12 had crossed the median line to Taiwan's north and center. Pictured
:?J-20 stealth fighter jets perform in the sky during the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition on November 9, 2022.

中国's 関係 with the West, 特に its grand 競争相手 the 部隊d 明言する/公表するs, is rocky to say the least, and 中国's 脅すing posture に向かって Taiwan is just one of many pinch points. There have long been 緊張s between Beijing and Taipei but these have 増大するd かなり in 最近の years, with 大統領 Xi 率直に 明言する/公表するing his 願望(する) to '再統合する' the island with the 本土/大陸, by 軍隊 if necessary. Chinese 軍の 航空機 routinely 乗る,着手する on 脅すing sorties toward the island, and on Saturday sent almost two dozen 航空機 ove r the Taiwan 海峡 with some crossing the 極度の慎重さを要する median line separating the two 領土s. Taiwan's 弁護 省 said that from 9:30 am (0130 GMT) on Saturday it had (悪事,秘密などを)発見するd 22 Chinese 軍の 航空機, 含むing Su-30 闘士,戦闘機s, of which 12 had crossed the median line to Taiwan's north and 中心. Pictured:?J-20 stealth 闘士,戦闘機 jets 成し遂げる in the sky during the 14th 中国 International 航空 and 航空宇宙学 展示 on November 9, 2022.

The line once served as an unofficial border between the two sides over which neither sides' military crossed, but China says it does not recognize the line's existence. Besides China's consistently threatening posture toward Taiwan, the test also comes at a time of escalating tensions in the South China Sea between Beijing's vessels and other territories allied to the US. The Philippines this week accused Chinese coast guard ships of damaging its fishing vessels with high-powered water cannons on the Scarborough Shoal. The chain of reefs sits inside Manila's 200-nautical-mile (370km) exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but Beijing claims it as sovereign territory along with 90% of the South China Sea. An international tribunal invalidated China's claim in 2016, but Beijing does not recognize the ruling.

The line once served as an 非公式の 国境 between the two 味方するs over which neither 味方するs' 軍の crossed, but 中国 says it does not 認める the line's 存在. Besides 中国's 終始一貫して 脅すing posture toward Taiwan, the 実験(する) also comes at a time of 増大するing 緊張s in the South 中国 Sea between Beijing's 大型船s and other 領土s 連合した to the US. The Philippines this week (刑事)被告 Chinese coast guard ships of 損失ing its fishing 大型船s with high-力/強力にするd water 大砲s on the Scarborough Shoal. The chain of 暗礁s sits inside Manila's 200-航海の-mile (370km) 排除的 経済的な zone (EEZ), but Beijing (人命などを)奪う,主張するs it as 君主 領土 along with 90% of the South 中国 Sea. An international 法廷 無効にするd 中国's (人命などを)奪う,主張する in 2016, but Beijing does not 認める the 判決,裁定.

Want more stories like this from
 the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page?and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.

Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page?and 攻撃する,衝突する the follow button above for more of the news you need.