The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning sails toward the Miyako Strait near Okinawa Island, passing through the Pacific Ocean in this distributed photo taken by the Japan Self-Defense Forces and released by the Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry on April 4, 2021.
After the photo fiasco of the U.S. Navy captain stilting his feet and watching the Liaoning from afar, a photo was circulated on military websites referring to the Liaoning off Hainan Island East, where it stayed in place for nearly a day. Military experts are debating whether it was a mechanical failure or the Liaoning turning off its transponder. Or was it a fake photo spread on the Internet to confuse the public? The Chinese side has not been seen to have a relevant statement.
Recently, satellite photos circulated on the Internet, saying that on April 12, China’s Liaoning and other ships stayed in place for a whole day at a distance of about 290 kilometers from the port of Sanya off Hainan Island, sparking heated debate. After the controversy over the photo of the Liaoning, the captain of the U.S. naval ship stretched his feet and watched from afar, a political program in Taiwan used the question “Is the range inferior to that of the U.S. military? The Liaoning is stuck off Hainan Island in the East? A political program in Taiwan commented on the issue with the title “The Liaoning is stuck off Hainan Island.
Is there a malfunction or is there another mission?
Taiwan military expert Wu Mingjie pointed out in the program that the Liaoning has been in the water for more than thirty years, and the important power source relies on the ship’s about eight old steam boilers burning heavy oil, according to the Chinese side, they claim to start the voyage for at least ten hours to warm up the machine, and there is a real risk that its power system may malfunction during the long days of operation, but it does not rule out the possibility of landing and take-off training of the ship’s J-15 in this sea.
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In an interview with Radio Free Asia, Asia Pacific Defense magazine editor-in-chief Zheng Jiwen analyzed whether it was a mechanical failure, or a scheduled stop, or a low-speed approach. These are currently outside speculation, there is no evidence to support.
Zheng Jiwen said, “Although unusual, the follow-up does not seem to prove that the mainland has sent tug barges or related auxiliary ships to go with the operation, so although it is widely believed that some kind of malfunction is the reason for its berthing, there is no clearer message to support this claim.”
The U.S. Army released a photo of the captain of the USS Muscatine, a SHIELD destroyer, looking at the Chinese Liaoning from afar on April 4, 2021. (USN.com)
Zheng Jiwen said that if there is a simple failure, the ship can sail at low speed once it is removed. If further repairs are needed, the carrier can be docked in Sanya harbor. If there is no effect and the activity is free, then there could be other reasons for this short berthing, which so far is still unknown.
Liaoning once bought back by Chinese businessman for scrap metal
Zheng Jiwen said that the Liaoning has a displacement of about 70,000 tons, and before the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the hull was eighty percent complete and could not be finished due to lack of follow-up funds. The ship was then bought by mainland businessmen and shipped back to China for renovation as a maritime casino. The ship’s size, layout, hangars, weapons, radar and electronic systems are all greatly optimized, and the capacity of the aircraft carried is also much larger.
The military builder’s day shows a dual aircraft carrier muscle show?
Zheng Jiwen mentioned that it is important to pay attention to the future movements of the Liaoning. Will it be in maritime formation with the Shandong ship moored in Sanya harbor for joint maritime training missions? In this case, it is the first time that there is such a posture of dual aircraft carrier structure, which is a very important milestone for the development of the Chinese Communist Navy. In particular, April 23 is the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Navy. Will the Chinese Communist Party use this occasion to demonstrate the combat capability of the dual carriers and include the Type 075 amphibious assault ship to create a common momentum? This is a situation worthy of concern and attention in the coming days.
It seems that no supply ship was seen close to support
In response to the rumor that the Liaoning stayed at sea for a day, Taiwan military commentator Leyi Qi said in an interview with Radio Free Asia that it would be embarrassing if the ship was mechanically blocked, and that there should be a 9-0-1, commonly known as the “Big Nurse”, a 40,000-ton supply ship to deal with it immediately. Is it really so long to stop? Doubtful, as of now the message is not complete, did not get confirmed.
According to Qi Leyi, you can’t just look at the Liaoning, there are six ships in the formation this time, and five other surface ships, which should be observed based on the relative position of the other ships next to him.
The Liaoning was originally the Varyag, originally intended to be a maritime casino, but later refurbished into an aircraft carrier, a medium-sized carrier, traditionally powered, not nuclear-powered, and initially positioned as a test ship and training ship. (AFP photo)
The first time I saw the satellite image, it seems that in the south of him there is a zero five two D, about a distance of more than a hundred kilometers, if this photo is true, is it zero five two D this formation in the test of his regional air defense maximum effective range in that? But the problem is that even if this action is done, it should be done in action, not at a fixed point.”
The Liaoning was originally the “Varyag”, which was to be a maritime casino, but was later refurbished into an aircraft carrier, a medium-sized carrier, traditionally powered, not nuclear powered, and was originally positioned as a test ship and training ship.
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