China Fleet ready to flex muscles_
on the significant occasion that that people's liberation army navy will celebrate its 60th birthday on thursday, a grand fleet parade will be held off the coast of the eastern city of qingdao, with the splendid debut of china's nuclear powered submarines. the four-day celebration is expected to be joined by 21 naval vessels from 14 other countries and delegations from 29 other countries.
the upcoming grand parade has drawn the global attention not simply because of its international elements, as it is the first time in history that china will be hosting a multi-national naval parade; but more as a result of the veiled face of the chinese navy, which can hardly satisfy people's curiosity but always conjure up some fantasy. confined to realistic conditions, the chinese navy has long remained low-key, seldom making any voice and appearance in the international maritime affairs.
amid a spate of overt and covert problems blocking china's maritime development from making giant strides is, first of all, the backward strategic equipment, as compared to the naval powers such as the united states and russia. since its establishment, the pla navy has heavily relied on a combination of tactics, namely, 'speed boats plus submarines assisted by the scanty aviation,' --seen as 'stock-in-trade' in absence of aircraft carriers by the navy but appeared a bit old-fashioned today--. almost all the naval equipment is notoriously bulky in size and sophisticated in operation. besides, the navy has also suffered a severe shortage of funding.
second, the whole maritime industry has been invariably shrouded in secrecy, and the navy is especially submerged in an unduly secretive atmosphere, for the sake of naval security, and also affected by the clich茅 of maintaining secrecy. in so far as the secrecy goes, that the chinese navy will be inevitably limited from communicating with and learning form others, let alone summoning an international maritime parade. therefore, for almost six decades, the pla navy, veiled in a mist of mystery, has all along advanced at a snail's pace. this is clearly not commensurate with china's growing national strength and international clout.
more important, perhaps, the chinese navy has long been accustomed to acting as an onlooker and, at most, following in the footsteps of others. meanwhile, china has to be always wary about others' responses, in particular, those of its asian neighbors. recent years have already seen a growing clamor about 'china threat', which, although groundless and absurd, could raise doubts about china's peaceful rise.
however, navy is by nature an internationalized arms branch and should go global. and warships have been well accepted as the only armed force to be allowed to maneuver beyond borders in the times of peace, thereby commonly dubbed as the 'floating embassy.' china's expanding shares of global interests, brought about by its rising might, make it likely and desirable to develop and possess a powerful and high-ranking naval force. it has now turned out to be a sacred mission for the chinese navy to safeguard the global and regional maritime security as well as defend its own marine rights and interests.
international fleet parade has long been a standard practice among the naval powers to showcase their marine appreciations and naval strengths. in modern times, naval parade also provides an ideal platform, through which navies on behalf of different nations can communicate, exchange views, send goodwill to one another, and even compete in a more subdued way.
in actuality, the chinese navy has a long tradition to send its fleet overseas for parades and ceremonies. in the late qing dynasty, the chinese fleet travelled across the oceans to celebrate the coronation for george v of the united kingdom. since 1978 when reform and opening up policy was ushered in, the chinese navy has regularly dispatched its fleet to partake in the international parade.
today, china is emerging as a world power, boasting a long coast line, numerous islands and vast territorial waters. the naval parade to be hosted here will be a vivid expression of china's confidence in making the rational marine appeals and, also a name card of chinese navy to be delivered to the sea.
in the qingdao harbor, close to the historic sites where 104 years ago the then mighty imperial beiyang fleet was eventually annihilated in a naval battle with japan, the chinese fleet will be watched, in awe, catching wind and riding waves, with confidence and with an unprecedentedly strong appearance and bearing.
the upcoming grand parade has drawn the global attention not simply because of its international elements, as it is the first time in history that china will be hosting a multi-national naval parade; but more as a result of the veiled face of the chinese navy, which can hardly satisfy people's curiosity but always conjure up some fantasy. confined to realistic conditions, the chinese navy has long remained low-key, seldom making any voice and appearance in the international maritime affairs.
amid a spate of overt and covert problems blocking china's maritime development from making giant strides is, first of all, the backward strategic equipment, as compared to the naval powers such as the united states and russia. since its establishment, the pla navy has heavily relied on a combination of tactics, namely, 'speed boats plus submarines assisted by the scanty aviation,' --seen as 'stock-in-trade' in absence of aircraft carriers by the navy but appeared a bit old-fashioned today--. almost all the naval equipment is notoriously bulky in size and sophisticated in operation. besides, the navy has also suffered a severe shortage of funding.
second, the whole maritime industry has been invariably shrouded in secrecy, and the navy is especially submerged in an unduly secretive atmosphere, for the sake of naval security, and also affected by the clich茅 of maintaining secrecy. in so far as the secrecy goes, that the chinese navy will be inevitably limited from communicating with and learning form others, let alone summoning an international maritime parade. therefore, for almost six decades, the pla navy, veiled in a mist of mystery, has all along advanced at a snail's pace. this is clearly not commensurate with china's growing national strength and international clout.
more important, perhaps, the chinese navy has long been accustomed to acting as an onlooker and, at most, following in the footsteps of others. meanwhile, china has to be always wary about others' responses, in particular, those of its asian neighbors. recent years have already seen a growing clamor about 'china threat', which, although groundless and absurd, could raise doubts about china's peaceful rise.
however, navy is by nature an internationalized arms branch and should go global. and warships have been well accepted as the only armed force to be allowed to maneuver beyond borders in the times of peace, thereby commonly dubbed as the 'floating embassy.' china's expanding shares of global interests, brought about by its rising might, make it likely and desirable to develop and possess a powerful and high-ranking naval force. it has now turned out to be a sacred mission for the chinese navy to safeguard the global and regional maritime security as well as defend its own marine rights and interests.
international fleet parade has long been a standard practice among the naval powers to showcase their marine appreciations and naval strengths. in modern times, naval parade also provides an ideal platform, through which navies on behalf of different nations can communicate, exchange views, send goodwill to one another, and even compete in a more subdued way.
in actuality, the chinese navy has a long tradition to send its fleet overseas for parades and ceremonies. in the late qing dynasty, the chinese fleet travelled across the oceans to celebrate the coronation for george v of the united kingdom. since 1978 when reform and opening up policy was ushered in, the chinese navy has regularly dispatched its fleet to partake in the international parade.
today, china is emerging as a world power, boasting a long coast line, numerous islands and vast territorial waters. the naval parade to be hosted here will be a vivid expression of china's confidence in making the rational marine appeals and, also a name card of chinese navy to be delivered to the sea.
in the qingdao harbor, close to the historic sites where 104 years ago the then mighty imperial beiyang fleet was eventually annihilated in a naval battle with japan, the chinese fleet will be watched, in awe, catching wind and riding waves, with confidence and with an unprecedentedly strong appearance and bearing.