South China Sea – First Chinese military plane lands on artificial reef.

Images by DigitalGlobe, via the CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, and CNES, via Airbus DS and IHS Jane’s

In a move that observers might see as an ongoing escalation in the recent tensions prevailing in the South China Sea, a Chinese military aircraft has landed on a controversially constructed reef in the South China Sea.

This is the first instance that the Chinese have resorted to such a defiant step which occurred openly without any concern for international opinion; this was reported in the Chinese State media instruments.

Political and military circles are abuzz with the possibilities that this first-time initiative portends; it is widely believed that it is more like a testing dose to ascertain the limits that they can go to.

Consolidating – China in the South China Sea.

The next logical step, it is presumed would be the regular visits of the fleets of fighter jets before they are permanently stationed there.

The reef named Fiery Cross Reef is a part of the three newly constructed artificial islands that China has built on Spratly Peninsula by piling up sand and other material onto the existing rocky atolls and natural reefs that are found in plenty in the area.

The length of the runway is above 10,000 feet and civilian air traffic was started three months ago.

The US and regional countries have been protesting these artificial islands since they claim that the purpose is purely military; China has been denying any such military ambitions.

In the official version, People’s Liberation Army clarified that the only purpose of the landing was to rescue three workers who were seriously ill; that the aircraft happened to be patrolling in the area, was only a coincidence.

Moreover, it was a transport plane and was called in as a convenient emergency measure; to lend authenticity to their claim, the Chinese even posted a picture of the transport plane at their Hainan airport.

There were some reactions from the international community but none too strong; the Yongshujiao landing also exhibits that, gradually, China is making its intent clear about its long-term goals which give it an offshore stronghold in the strategic heart of South East Asia much against the protestations and claims of its regional neighbors who have their own claims.

Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are laying traditional claims to this vital waterway which sees upwards of $ 5.5Trillion of trade passing through every year.

But, Vietnamese authorities have launched a scathing attack on this provocative move by China since it did not receive any intimation about the aircraft movement either during the operation or before it began.

In effect, the civilian air traffic in the region had been endangered due to this defiant action of the Chinese military, they claimed.

While the PLA had claimed it as an emergency operation, the People’s Daily, which is a mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party of China, was more straightforward and direct in its approach.

It did not beat around the bush while praising the landing and lauded it since it was a testimony to the growing capabilities of the Chinese army; the operation exhibited the success of the Chinese Forces in the following ways:

1. It exhibited the soundness of the airport and that its infrastructure was strong enough to bear the landings and takeoffs of the heavy military transport planes; this aspect was also supported by military and aviation experts;
2. It exhibited that the forces were trained in the execution of missions that required clockwork precision and speed,
3. That the runway and landing infrastructure was now ready to enable the movement of heavier and faster fighter jets and other tools of war like long-range Bombers and transport planes.

Simulating Warlike Conditions

The PLA also published a report on the efficacy and readiness of the Chinese fleets as seen from the observation of the military exercises which commenced earlier this month.

While it was not clarified as to where exactly they were conducted, it was pointed out that the emphasis was on the combat-readiness of the armed forces in measuring up in the event of a modern war involving hi-tech war in the simulated electromagnetic environment.

The forces were also subjected to warlike situations to assess their reaction time and effectiveness in:

1. Beyond visibility warfare training,
2. High-speed warfare to assess the pilots’ battle readiness, and
3. Study the cohesiveness of the Air Force and the Navy to assess their responses and strikes in an environment of the worst-case scenarios with respect to the dangers and the real warlike conditions.

Meanwhile, all essential military tactics are being explored by the Chinese Defense forces in combination with:

1. Surface ships,
2. Air Force,
3. Under-water submarines, and
4. Ground forces.

Author:  UMRAO SINGH

Comments

comments