[보도] Aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 competition looms over Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific countries are racing to expand their aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 fleets in order to adapt to the changing geopolitical situation in the region.

Experts estimate that about 18 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers will be operating in the region during the next decade, as rivals including the United States, China, Japan and Russia are engaged in heated competition over superiority on the high seas.

Security realignment

"Asia-Pacific powers such as the United States, China, Japan, Russia and India have entered an era of aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 competition. This silent war will be further fueled by the ongoing and tumultuous realignment of the regional security order," said Lee Choon-kun, a security expert and vice president of the Seoul-based think tank, the Center for Free Enterprise.

China is building an aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 which it hopes to commission by 2009. Japan owns five light carriers, and plans to build four more units by 2015. Russia aims to operate six aircraft carriers in the next two decades.

Lee explained that future competition will center on 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 emerging contest between 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 U.S.-Japan and Russia-China alliances.

프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 United States is currently strengthening its ties with Japan so as to counter China's rise in Asia and to isolate Russia in Europe.

In Asia, 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 U.S. strategy is focused on encircling China by forming alliances with China's neighbors, in accord with a new containment policy. Washington is deploying troops in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, west of China. It is also seeking to enhance its military cooperation with India, Vietnam and Mongolia, experts say.

In response, Russia and China have recently enhanced their military ties, as a way of checking 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 U.S. strategy. 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 two countries organized 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 Shanghai Cooperation Organization with Central Asian nations as a counter alliance to 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 U.S.-led alliance, and are seeking to offer SCO membership to other nations which oppose U.S. global leadership - for example, Iran.

Experts note that 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 East China Sea will be a geopolitical flash point because 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 area is an axis for sea lanes from 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 Indian Ocean to 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 western Pacific Ocean, and has abundant natural gas, oil, and other resources.

"There is an emerging trend whereby 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 locus of regional conflicts is moving to maritime areas, from land-based ones. 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 possibility is increasing that countries in such regions will be engaged in armed conflicts," said Lee Sang-hyun, director of Security Studies at 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 Sejong Institute, a civilian think tank.

Aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 race

Experts predict that 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers and submarines will be key assets to maritime power. The carriers will help countries secure strategic advantages in naval operations because the vessels allow a naval force to project air power at great distances, without depending on land bases.

China is reportedly pushing ahead with the construction of a 93,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 that is scheduled to be operational by 2020. The Chinese government officially denies the project.

Reports indicate that the country has already finished the design of its first aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트, and has built a huge shipyard in Shanghai which can accommodate a 30,000-ton-class vessel. The facility is in the process of developing the engine, deck planes, and other parts and equipment.

Some reports also suggest that 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 Beijing government has already chosen 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 defense manufacturers who will produce 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 parts and subsystems for 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers, and that 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 goal is to build three such ships by 2016.

프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 vessels, along with strategic nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear missiles, will be a counterforce to U.S. naval dominance in 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 region, experts say.

China also is pushing for a sales contract estimated at $2.5 billion to purchase 50 Sukhoi-33 fighter jets from Russia. These planes will serve as 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트-borne aircraft.

The United States, which is the world's largest naval power, will increase its own number of 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers in an attempt to check the rapid rise of China.

According to the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review report, the United States is supposed to deploy at least six out of 11 such carriers in the Pacific Ocean. The plan calls for two units now in the Atlantic Ocean to be redeployed to the Pacific. The U.S. Navy currently operates four 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers in the Pacific, in Guam, Hawaii, and San Diego.

Japan, which is believed to have the second strongest naval power in the western Pacific, has recently commissioned a large-deck frigate called the 16DDH. This is a rotary-wing aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 that can accommodate 11 helicopters on deck. The ship can also carry vertical take-off and landing craft such as F-35Bs, which the United States has suggested it plans to sell to Japan.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces already possess large-deck landing ships which experts categorize as quasi-프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers. The Tokyo government plans to build two 40,000-ton-class 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers before 2015. The vessels will be able to load E-2C airborne early-warning 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트, as well as vertical take-off, landing craft, and short-range fighter planes.

Russia, the Cold War rival of the United States, is now taking steps to restore its former standing by using its oil wealth. Moscow currently operates only one aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트, but plans to build a total of six 50,000-ton-class units within two decades. The new carriers will carry 30 fighter jets, and be armed with a variety of missiles.

India as a geopolitical pivot

Experts are also paying close attention to 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 Indian Navy. They say that India will be a pivotal nation in regional geopolitics, in 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 sense that it can give crucial support to either a U.S.-led or an anti-U.S. alliance.

India is planning to have three aircraft carriers within 10 years. It has signed a contract with Russia to take over a used aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트, the Admiral Gorshkov, since the INS Viraat, a British-made aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트, is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2012. The INS Viraat is the flagship of the Indian Navy. The new 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 is expected to enter service in 2008 as the INS Vikramaditya, thus complementing the Viraat.

In 2005, the Indian Defense Ministry began building a 41,340-ton-class aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트, the first 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 to be built by India at the Cochin Shipyard in southern India. The shipyard plans to complete work on the Vikrant-class ship by 2012 so that it will be ready for active service. The 252-meter-long vessel will cruise at a maximum of 28 knots, and will have 20 jet fighters, 10 helicopters, and 1,600 troops. India will attach Russian-made MiG-29Ks and Indian-made LCA light fighters to the 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트.

South Korea: A new contender?

The South Korean Navy has recently commissioned a 14,000-ton-class large-deck transport ship as part of an acquisition project code-named Land Platform Experimental. Chinese experts categorize the ship - named Dokdo after Korea's easternmost island - as an aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트.

South Korea plans to build two additional Dokdo-class vessels by 2011. 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 LPX ships are capable of carrying 300 crew members and 700 troops and staff, plus seven helicopters, six tanks, three artillery guns, two hovercraft, and other vehicles. 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 ships will be used to support marine-landing operations.

Meanwhile, Navy officials say that Korea has no plans to build aircraft carriers any time soon, mainly because of budget constraints. The operation of carriers requires the Navy to own its own fighter jets and other aircraft assets, but the Navy cannot afford these given the current budget, they said. So an aircraft 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 plan is not included in the nation's 2020 defense-reform plan, they added.

Most South Korean experts in the field are opposed to acquiring 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers. They emphasize that the Navy should be equipped with more state-of-the-art subs.

"I agree that we need to purchase or build additional submarines, but I oppose any acquisition of 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers, due to the heavy costs, in contrast to the operational gains that would be achieved," said Lee Sang-hyun.

Meanwhile, Kang Young-oh, a retired Navy commodore and strategist who continues to be quite influential, argues that South Korea needs to operate at least three 40,000-ton-class 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트 carriers to more effectively counter various threats. Such carriers would be launching decks for 30-40 프라그마틱 슬롯 사이트, including antisubmarine and early-warning planes, Kang said.

By Jin Dae-woong (davidpooh@heraldm.com)