China's power projection capability

[IDonT]

Scenario (just assume its possible)
China joins Russia, US, and EU military attack on Iran, both air and spec opps raid to prevent development of nukes.

What kind of military hardware can PLAN provide the coalition.

Here is what I think:
4-5 destroyers to patrol the Persian Gulf
3-4 squadron of J-11, strike aircraft. (I think it would be best time to show off and see the actual capabilities of the J-10. The US will certainly show off the F-22 if there is such a war)
1 Regiment of special forces troops for rapid raid supported by corresponding helicopter support.

[tphuang]

I would say add JH-7A and H-6 to that list. They would be the strike aircraft. Possibly, bring some of their IL-76 and IL-78. Add to that, supply a few AWACS. For destroyers, they'd probably be accompanied by the newest 053 and the 054s.

[PiSigma]

i don't think china will show off all her new toys, just because the PLA don't want other's to know their true capabilities.. but they will bring it some new toys that everyone know about to test them in actual warfare and to gain experience. of course can watch the americans fight a major war first hand, that's got to teach some something about modern warfare.. afterall USA is still the most powerful nation on the planet.

[Ender Wiggin]

Considering that Japan and 1 or 2 other East Asian Nations have been complaining about the lack of transparency in China's military spending, showing off China's teeth would not only show what was spent on what but also prove that the People's Republic is dedicated to maintaining Peace. Its a Win-Win.

[renmin]

I dont see why China would get invovled in such a war. China can and maybe someday would join the countries mentioned above but attack on Iran?! I oplogize for what im saying but it just doesnt add up. We are talking modern China and global politics of today shows that such a attack is quite impossible but maybe in the farther future. China today would not get involved in such a feasco unless Iran attacked China (again un-realistic). Now if Iran had attacked China, I would say the that China would really let Iran have it. H-6s, JH-7s, J-10s, J-11s, subs, destroyers. China does not attack a country unless that country sevearly threatend China or made a direct assult first.

[crobato]

Don't think China will ever participate in any mid east venture, but I suspect they will bomb North Korea if it ever goes nuclear and if Kim there ever gives the slightest hint to threaten or blackmail the PRC with it.

[renmin]

Don't think China will ever participate in any mid east venture, but I suspect they will bomb North Korea if it ever goes nuclear and if Kim there ever gives the slightest hint to threaten or blackmail the PRC with it.Acutually, beleive it or not, Kim's got more than half of his nukes pointed at China, isnt that a big threat? Kim has already gone nuclear, may be not long range weapons but can still hit China. But we've pointed our nukes at him too;) .Mid eastern or not, China would not get involved in any conflict unless there is a good reason (and I mean very GOOD).

[crobato]

Acutually, beleive it or not, Kim's got more than half of his nukes pointed at China, isnt that a big threat? Kim has already gone nuclear, may be not long range weapons but can still hit China. But we've pointed our nukes at him too;) .Mid eastern or not, China would not get involved in any conflict unless there is a good reason (and I mean very GOOD).

I don't think Kim got an actual working nuke yet, but it only means he got ballistic missles pointed at China.

Kim is a loon. If he really has a nuke pointed at China and has the nuts to use it, I would think China would preempt such an attempt by precision attacks and the entire PLA rolling across his borders. This is probably the most acceptable means rather than a nuclear exchange.

[Aerodriver]

If in the near future Iran really messed up big time and there was some kind of coalition involving China to strike Iran, I think China would only send a token force. In my opinion China is still learning its new role on the international stage is not ready to be an ally with America yet in any armed conflict. It is also busy improving the quality of its forces and although it now has some good equipment Chinese pilots are not yet as competent as the west and if they lost more planes than an equivalent western power (equivalent in number of aircraft sent to the region not total air strength) which is quite possible, then at this stage it would be bad for China on the world stage.
However if the scenario was in ten years time, then I think China would be much more ready, able and willing to be involved in any UN action against a future "rogue" state.

[IDonT]

I don't think Kim got an actual working nuke yet, but it only means he got ballistic missles pointed at China.

Kim is a loon. If he really has a nuke pointed at China and has the nuts to use it, I would think China would preempt such an attempt by precision attacks and the entire PLA rolling across his borders. This is probably the most acceptable means rather than a nuclear exchange.


Most of the North Korean Army is deployed in the DMZ, the Northern border with China is relatively unprotected. A Chinese armored thrust comprising 3 armored divisions, can roll through Pyongyang before the NK army can redeploy.

[SampanViking]

Why does anyone believe, China or Russia would ally themselves with the USA, in order to attack a country with whom they enjoy excellent trade and friendly diplomatic relations?

The fact that both China & Russia both agreed to "inform" the UN about Irans activities are I think being mis-understood. In the UK we have "Inquiries". Here matters are held, usually behind looked doors, hearings last a very long time and are usually inconclusive or deliver non damning conclusions.

This is the case here. Just like Saddams Trial, it will go on for a long time and get nowhere.

In the meantime everybody has to wait, and any Unilateral action will be strictly unauthorised and highly Illegal. Q.E.D.

[IDonT]

Why does anyone believe, China or Russia would ally themselves with the USA, in order to attack a country with whom they enjoy excellent trade and friendly diplomatic relations?

The fact that both China & Russia both agreed to "inform" the UN about Irans activities are I think being mis-understood. In the UK we have "Inquiries". Here matters are held, usually behind looked doors, hearings last a very long time and are usually inconclusive or deliver non damning conclusions.

This is the case here. Just like Saddams Trial, it will go on for a long time and get nowhere.

In the meantime everybody has to wait, and any Unilateral action will be strictly unauthorised and highly Illegal. Q.E.D.

Because Russia and China are not taking Iran's side purely on the basis of trade benefits. China and Russia, by "supporting" Iran on a political basis, do it to frustrate US influence in the region. They know that their influence on traditional US allies (Saudi, Kuwait, Egypt, UAE, etc) are marginal at best, so they try to balance it by trying to "support" US hostile regimes like Iran and Syria. Power politics my friend, that is the basis of support for Iran from Russia and China. It is not for some noble goals becuase ORthodox Russia and Buddist China do not have a lot in common with Shia Muslim Iran.

FYI Russia and China enjoy trade benefits with the USA that are several magnitude to that with Iran. Heck South Korea, EU, Taiwan have do more business with China in a month than Iran does for a year.

[SampanViking]

Hi Don't

First off I think the idea of looking at what kind of forces the PLA would contribute to a UN organised Coalition is a perfectly valid and interesting one, it is only the scenario I find unrealistic.

Iran is a major supplier of Oil to China (all of China's oil supplies are critical, especially in terms of securing uninterrupted long term supply), hence any disruption of supply due to Military action, let alone total loss of supply to a US Occupier, would be unacceptable and resisted. This takes no account of other Geopolitical issues in allowing the US open access to Central Asia.

In terms of trade, you are looking at the wrong comparison. US trade accounts (I believe) for about 25% of China's export business. China obviously does not wish to lose that market, but is still going to worry more about the other 75%, a ever greater proportion of which is coming from the developing world, which views China as a "benign" non-interefering partner.

I am not quite sure whether you are agreeing with my view or challenging it. I still maintain that China is most interested in losing the entire issue in the beaurocratic maze of UN Diplomacy, frustrating, delaying and obstructing the process, without having to directly oppose.

But still a scenario is a scenario, the US joining China and Russia in a mission to occupy and Disincorporate the State of Isreal is another, want to join in?:D :roll:

[MIGleader]

Acutually, beleive it or not, Kim's got more than half of his nukes pointed at China, isnt that a big threat? Kim has already gone nuclear, may be not long range weapons but can still hit China. But we've pointed our nukes at him too;) .Mid eastern or not, China would not get involved in any conflict unless there is a good reason (and I mean very GOOD).

it was estimated kim had 6-8 nuclear warheads, but no working system to ferry the warheads to china.

No need to nuke kim. If he ever launches a pre-emptive strike with a ballistic missle, some s-300 will probably shoot it down. The plaaf would have absolutely no trouble dealing with the NKAF, which still uses mig-19s, and has 2 dozen fulcrum As as theri most advanced plane. 3 pla armored division would be outside of pyongyang in a day. Not a bad way to test out new weapons. I doubt anyone would care, rather the prc would be seen as a hero.

[silverpike]

attack iran?! people in china r currently arguing how could PLA help Iran to resist possible US invasion !
Iran is china's only ally in the mid-east plus it provide china 20 million tons of oil every year! for china, the relationship with Iran even has more strategic value then DPRK!
and as for the topic, china is serious lack of projection capability, PLA doesn't have aircarft-carrier, advance long-range bomber, and oversea armybases...PLA has always been a defensive force(that's policy as well) ,but it's about to change very soon. after years of military buildup, PLA start to setting their eye on offensive weapons...