Analysis: What a New Chinese Aircraft Carrier Means for Taiwan
The Fujian, China's newest aircraft carrier, crossed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, Taiwan's defense ministry said. TaiwanPlus spoke to defense expert Lu De-yun about what role it could play in the region.
Aircraft Carriers: Geopolitical Tools or Military Threats?
REPORTER:
This ship was sighted the same day that the National Security Bureau and the Defense Ministry published a report on Chinese aggression towards Taiwan and other nearby countries. What strategic role do you think that this new aircraft carrier will play in this ongoing concern?
Lu De-yun (DEFENSE EXPERT):
An aircraft carrier is essentially a political tool, especially a geopolitical one. It can display strength to surrounding countries, and achieve the goal of influencing regional politics and diplomatic developments. However, its actual military function is fairly weak. Its greatest role is strategic, specifically in peacetime rather than during war.
REPORTER:
How big a threat is this ship given its much more advanced than China's previous aircraft carriers?
Lu De-yun (DEFENSE EXPERT):
In the event of a conflict, defending an aircraft carrier—such a large and valuable target—would be extremely difficult. Its effectiveness would be minimal or even non-existent.
So what military threat does an aircraft carrier pose to Taiwan? To put it simply, no threat.
China has no way to defend something so large and so valuable.
REPORTER:
Although the Ministry was very clear about pointing out that the ship was not undertaking any military action at the time. What role do you think it will play in the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait moving forward?
Lu De-yun (DEFENSE EXPERT):
Aircraft carriers affect geopolitics and diplomacy. The Fujian is a new big variable in the region’s strategic and military balance.
In the Western Pacific, the area between the first and second island chains down to the South Pacific and South China Sea, it would be possible for China to establish its own regional power center.
Building these ships is something of a prestige project for China. In peacetime, aircraft carriers can make the country look like a great power, but they have limited function when it is actually time to use them.
