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China Emerging As A New Naval Superpower

July 5, 2009

Naval Relations Between Pakistan And China Reach A New Level Martin McCauley reports from the United States: Western intelligence sources are keeping a close eye on China’s military preparations. The thing that puzzles them is: how does one explain the fact that at a time when China is not facing a military threat its defence expenditure is rising fast? Does Beijing perceive a threat to its security in the near future? Surely not. The most plausible answer is that it is a natural concomitant of its rising economic power. Take, for instance, the expansion of its navy.

President Hu Jintao declared at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Chinese navy at Qingdao in April that China would never seek military ‘hegemony’ or pose a threat to the security of its neighbours. He also talked of ‘harmonious oceans’. What did he mean by that? It may either mean that there is a balance of power on the oceans which concern China or that China wishes to dominate them. Despite the honeyed words of the Chinese leader, littoral states are beginning to be concerned buy the build up of Chinese naval power.

There are two main problems for China: the Strait of Malacca, between Malaysia and Indonesia, is the main gateway between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. About a quarter of the world’s trade flows through the strait and this includes oil from the Persian Gulf destined for China, South Korea and Japan. The other is the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. It lies between Iran in the north and the United Arab Emirates in the south.

In the event of hostilities, China’s supply of oil and other goods would be choked off. Hence finding an alternative route is a key objective of Beijing. In order to provide ports and support services for its ships, China has signed deals with Myanmar (Burma), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Needless to say these developments have alarmed India which sees itself being encircled.

The two most significant moves have been in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The naval and commercial port of Gwadar in Pakistan -situated 400 km from the Strait of Hormuz - has great potential for China. Submarines might be based off the Pakistani coast. The other attractive option is for an oil pipeline to be built between Gwadar through Pakistan to Xinjiang in western China. This would carry oil from the Persian Gulf and Africa and thereby bypass the Strait of Malacca.

Chinese and Pakistani naval cooperation has grown since 2003 when the two navies held joint exercises in the East China Sea off Shanghai. They also engaged in a training exercise in the Arabian Sea in 2005. Then in 2007 China undertook a multinational training exercise off Pakistan’s coast. One Chinese scholar asserted that the ‘Indian Ocean with Chinese characteristics’ was now a reality. Chinese naval commander-in-chief, Admiral Wu Shengli, talked of his navy becoming an ‘ocean going iron Great Wall’. China’s ambitions are plain for all to see.

Pakistan is taking delivery of two of four Chinese built frigates this year. The third has already been launched and the fourth will be delivered in 2013. What is India’s response? India has received three Israeli Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) this year and another two are due in 2010. Reports indicate that it plans to purchase over 200 Russian Sukhoi jet aircraft by 2014.

The other significant development is the construction of a naval and commercial port at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka. This became possible after China provided the Sri Lanka air force with aircraft to attack and defeat the Tamil Tigers separatist movement. Other military hardware followed.

China is now building a chain of ports and services stations around the Indian Ocean. It now needs facilities in either or both the Arabian Peninsula and east Africa.

One significant piece of advice extended by Deng Xiaoping was that China should ‘hide its real capabilities’ and ‘bide its time’. Opportunities should be seized as they occurred.

We are now witnessing the emergence of a new naval power in South East Asia and the Indian Ocean: China.

– End –

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