Chinese PLA General Claims Sinking Two U.S. Carriers Would Solve South China Sea Dispute

With tensions between China and the United States continuing to escalate, the South China Sea remains a key hotspot for conflict between the two powers as American ‘Freedom of Navigation’ patrols continue to enter waters Beijing claims as it own. In response to perceived provocations from the United States, People's Liberation Army (PLA) Academy of Military Science Deputy Director Rear Admiral Luo Yuan has proposed that the  that military consider sinking two of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft. This would, according to the Admiral, resolve the dispute surrounding both the East and South China Seas by sending a message to Washington regarding the dangers of militarily provoking Beijing in East Asia. Admiral Luo referred to “five cornerstones" of possible U.S. weakness, noting: "what the United States fears the most is taking casualties." Referring to the PLA’s high end anti ship capabilities, he noted that sinking carriers would lead to losses of several thousand American servicemen - a cost no U.S. administration would be willing to tolerate.

U.S. Navy Nimitz and Wasp Class Carriers

The U.S. Navy’s 100,000 ton Nimitz Class supercarriers each carry over 6000 crew, while the lighter 40,000 ton Wasp Class ships carry almost 3000 crew. The loss of these multi billion dollar warships, which take several years to replace, would also be considerable. This will have a particularly critical impact given the currently problems with new carrier programs, the Gerald Ford and America Class ships, and considerable delays commissioning the new carriers. Admiral Yuan indicated that China’s growing and formidable arsenal of new anti ship assets, which are designed to and capable of bypassing a full carrier strike group’s defences, would be able to cause considerable damage to hostile warships the East or South China Seas. "We'll see how frightened America is," he said.

Chinese H-6 Heavy Bomber

Elaborating on the reasons for his proposition, Luo said that China had to "use its strength to attack the enemy's shortcomings. Attack wherever the enemy is afraid of being hit. Wherever the enemy is weak, just focus on developing (an advantage)." Among China’s ‘carrier killer’ assets, the DF-21D anti ship ballistic missile has emerged as the most prolific - a unique platform capable of striking aircraft carriers at extreme ranges and hypersonic speeds against which the U.S. Navy has admitted that it currently has no defence. The PLA is reportedly currently testing a hypersonic anti ship tactical ballistic missile similar to, and likely incorporating technologies from, the Russian Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air launched munition. This missile, too, would leave hostile warships defenceless and is capable of bypassing any existing air defence system - while its sheer speed allows it to disable any known warship with a single strike. China’s H-6 heavy bombers, which have previously been equipped with other ballistic missiles, are highly likely to become launch platforms for these munitions should they enter service, and the bombers are highly capable in long range anti shipping roles - equipped to strike American carrier strike groups at standoff ranges with a number of cutting edge munitions.