PLAN Carrier Construction

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Liaoning's Provincial Party Committee Secretary has just said publicly that "after the commissioning of the Liaoning, China's second home-constructed aircraft carrier will start construction at Dalian, with an estimated construction cycle of 6 years, together with 2 other 052D guided-missile destroyers. "

First, this MAY or MAY NOT be reliable. But I believe it should be as it corresponds to what we have known so far (North and South each will build a carrier, with the North start the construction of 052Ds). Although the number of 052Ds does differ from what we have known (2 vs 4).

Second, in the original report what he said was "国产" which literally translates into "country-made" or "country-produced" or "country-manufactured". So, by "second" he could mean that Liaoning is the first OR he could mean that the carrier at Shanghai has already started construction (which may be those structures we have seen in photos).

These are just some of the possible interpretations of his words and some of my own speculations. Do take it with a grain of salt.

For those who are not familiar with Chinese system, a provincial party committee secretary (also known as "party-chief") is the highest level party official in a province. Although the provincial governor is the head of government, the "party-chief" has actually higher rank and higher power than the governor. Also, many provincial level or municipal cities' party chiefs, especially young and capable ones from important places such as Shanghai, will eventually rise to the most powerful elite Politburo Standing Committee, or even become premier or Party General Secretary, who's also the President, and Chairman of the Central Military Committee.


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Actually, it has been reported numerous times that the Chinese have started a carrier at DL. The real question is whether the "second" refers to the indigenous carrier line or the Russian+Chinese general carrier line.
 

Preux

Junior Member
The examples are somewhat different... For instance, one uses up a fair chunk more of shipyard dry dock space, and makes no sense to be built inside a shipyard when any old construction firm (of which china has many competent ones) could shimmy it out, without the eyebrow raising task of hauling the already completed structure from its present location.

... Do you actually think the module in the shipyard is actually meant to be relocated onto land as a building or an art piece? O_O

Now, I personally have reasons to believe that that particular piece of promo literature is so much smoke screen (anybody can commission a piece of artwork...), there actually are quite a lot of precedents for it - major shipyards in China, including Jiangnan, actually do fabricate components for bridges. Of course bridge components have the not inconsiderable advantage of usually being along major rivers...
 

Jovian

Junior Member
Whether it's art, module piece, or a building it's still ugly to me.

So... they are building a park decor this time? At least this time they have some artist's impression/drawing. I mean, their last project didn't even show what the "floating casino" is going to look like!

Jovian
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Okay, back on topic with actual PLAN carrier construction plans and leave off with the discussion of the "carrier art.".

The western press has picked up on and is reporting the comments of the PArty Leader about another Chinese carrier soon to start building in China.

This report out of Taiwan has been picked up and circulated by others.

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However, I think they have it wrong regarding the numbers.

Earlier on this thread we had the report directly about what the Chinese Party official said. I thought the translation of his words referred to a "home built," or indigenous carrier. If that is so, and the one in Dalian will be the second "home built," or indigenous carrier, then I do not believe that the Liaoning, CV-16, was the first. It is not an indigenous carrier.

This could mean that what we heard last year about two STOBAR carriers being built simultaneously may be true.
 

delft

Brigadier
There is something odd here. IIRC the trading in CSSC shares was interrupted on the Shanghai stock exchange from May to August because of the writing of a contract between the company and the state regarding investment to support the building of large naval ships. This was discussed in the thread on PLAN carriers that was lost and I can't find the information on the web. CSSC owns JN, the Dalian ship yards are owned by CSIC. Am I wrong, was it the trading of CSIC shares that was interrupted?
 

longmarch

Junior Member
Registered Member
Okay, back on topic with actual PLAN carrier construction plans and leave off with the discussion of the "carrier art.".

The western press has picked up on and is reporting the comments of the PArty Leader about another Chinese carrier soon to start building in China.

This report out of Taiwan has been picked up and circulated by others.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


However, I think they have it wrong regarding the numbers.

Earlier on this thread we had the report directly about what the Chinese Party official said. I thought the translation of his words referred to a "home built," or indigenous carrier. If that is so, and the one in Dalian will be the second "home built," or indigenous carrier, then I do not believe that the Liaoning, CV-16, was the first. It is not an indigenous carrier.

This could mean that what we heard last year about two STOBAR carriers being built simultaneously may be true.

Given that this is Liao Ning's party boss speaking, it's perfectly fine for him to take CV 16 as "home build", as it's finished in his district. So I wouldn't read too much into his words, other than that construction for a new carrier has started in Dalian.

Even though as a provincial party boss would make him a member of CPC's central committee, his military role is still much limited and nothing he says can be counted as official, especially that this is just an informal comment. If this is a member of Politburo speaking, it would carry much more weight. So I would take the "4" planned carriers with a huge amount of salt.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Given that this is Liao Ning's party boss speaking, it's perfectly fine for him to take CV 16 as "home build", as it's finished in his district. So I wouldn't read too much into his words, other than that construction for a new carrier has started in Dalian.
I do not think that the Liaoning can be considered by any stretch to be "home built." It as not. The hull was pretty much 100% complete when it came to China and I would expect someone in his position to know this.

It was refurbished in China it is true. But as I understood it, the wording he used was close to what in English we would call indigenous, which cannot be construed at all as they type of program the Varyag transformation into the Liaoning was.

But then again, I am not native in the least in the language and I could well be wrong on that point.
 

by78

General
I do not think that the Liaoning can be considered by any stretch to be "home built." It as not. The hull was pretty much 100% complete when it came to China and I would expect someone in his position to know this.

It was refurbished in China it is true. But as I understood it, the wording he used was close to what in English we would call indigenous, which cannot be construed at all as they type of program the Varyag transformation into the Liaoning was.

But then again, I am not native in the least in the language and I could well be wrong on that point.

I agree. I read the article, and the party secretary meant 'indigenous'. Full stop. No ambiguity there.

P.S. I'm assuming the party secretary is a native Chinese speaker, and the interviewer had not 're-interpreted' the party secretary.
 
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Sczepan

Senior Member
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The truth about aircraft carrier

( Source: China Daily ) 2014-January-24 08:55


  Headlines like "China building second aircraft carrier" were recently splashed by some Western media outlets even after the Ministry of Defense spokesman called the speculation "inaccurate". This is nothing new. The Western media have always viewed China's defense system with suspicion.
...
 

Player99

Junior Member
Regarding the "six years" that I think we've all read for the first Chinese-made carrier to complete, I read a rumor today that this "six-year" period has actually started since some two years ago! I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

By the way (and sorry for being off topic), Jeff, you were somehow dragged into some infight on the BR forum's Chinese Military thread. It sounds like someone there really resents you. ;)
 
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