New China Aircraft Carriers To Block US, Japan From Aiding Taiwan

China is claiming that the reason for a proposed dual-carrier blockade of Taiwan using the recently commissioned Shandong and its older sister carrier Liaoning is to stop the U.S. long-range bombers from taking off from a naval base in Guam. But instead of a war-time ploy to isolate U.S. ally Taiwan, could this be another move by Beijing to force unification of what China calls a wayward province?

The blockade would prevent foreign military access to Taiwan during a war, according to a military magazine and defense specialists. Any aid from Japan would also be cut off in addition to what the U.S. could send.

Hong Kong-based military commentator Song Zhongping said, “Blocking the US and Japanese fleets’ access to Taiwan is the People's Liberation Army (PLA’s) [main] mission. However, in order to take supreme advantage in sea and air domains, the PLA needs to coordinate not only the dual-carrier battle group but also joint operations between different combat units, such as the rocket force, amphibious troops and other service groups.”. This would help the PLA extend its combat range from the coast of mainland China to the air-sea domains around Taiwan.

In addition to the two carriers, two Type 055 guided-missile destroyers, four Type 054 frigates, six guided-missile frigates, as well as one supply ship and three Type 093B nuclear submarines would be deployed as reported by Beijing-based Naval and Merchant Ships monthly magazine on Tuesday.

The report added, “[Another major] task of the [battle group’s aircraft] is to stop US long-range bombers from taking off from a naval base in Guam. This would be to prevent American aircraft targeting the PLA’s landing transport formations and Chinese submarines.”

Statements from Beijing-based military specialist Zhou Chenming agreed with Song Zhongping and the magazine. He said, “Together the two aircraft carriers would be able to launch nearly 30 carrier-based J-15 fighter jets to target any warplanes from American carrier strike groups, which would effectively reduce the numerical strength [of the American forces].”

Zhou also said, “But a dual-carrier battle group is purely a defensive combat formation. It’s not powerful enough to make a strike on other countries in the region, especially when dealing with the American carrier combat groups.” This indicates that the true reason to cut off Taiwan is not to fend off any American or Japanese forces but to starve Taiwan of supplies to force reunification.

Zhou continued calling Taiwan one of Beijing’s “core national interests”, and that China would “spare no effort to maintain its territory integrity if Taiwan takes real action to declare independence”.

Beijing may also be plotting to use the dual-carrier battle group for an even more aggressive presence in the South China Sea. Zhongping added that it would help the PLA gain military superiority in the South China Sea, which is also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.