PLA Navy building second carrier base in secret: report
Staff Reporter 2013-06-04 16:32
The Liaoning is based in Qingdao but will need other ports at which it can call. (Photo/CNS)
China's navy is building a second base for a large military vessel in secret after deploying the country's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, to Qingdao in Shandong province, according to the Kanwa Defense Review published by Andrei Chang in Canada.
Chang said that Qingdao as a home port alone will not be enough for the Liaoning to conduct various missions including training, refitting and supplying. More bases will be needed, especially if the Liaoning is ultimately to lead a carrier battle group.
The Kanwa Defense Review said the home ports of the PLA Navy's three major fleets are all potential candidates for Liaoning and other aircraft carriers to be deployed in the future. Most ports along the eastern China coast are suitable for large vessels like carriers, but have the drawback of being too close to US bases in Japan and Okinawa, Chang said. If war were to break out, they could be sealed off or attacked easily. Since these ports are also close to the nation's major trading ports, it would also be difficult for the PLA to hide the secrets of its carriers from the public.
The South Sea Fleet's ports on the southern island of Hainan therefore represent the best options for the PLA Navy to base aircraft carriers. The entries to other major naval ports in southern China such as Zhanjiang and Guangzhou are too small for aircraft carriers to navigate, Chang said.
