Steam catapault in Shanghai?

That is according to Richard in the CMF, reading a report said to be from Jane’s. You don’t have a steam catapault, unless you’re serious in practicing carrier style takeoffs.

What gives? We have the carrier mockup, which can be used for testing ship radars; the suspicion around the Varyag still in the Dalian port. I’m still quite suspicious about the third purchase of SU-30MK2s, if this “navalized” SUs are indeed based on the SU-27KUB aka SU-33UB, which can not only do carrier style takeoffs and landings, but double duty as trainers for such and as strike jets in the case of war.

Col. Yu of the CDF has a neat term for carrier and sub factions in the PLA—the seagull faction vs. the squid faction. A Chinese carrier is still indeed a hotly debated point among the Chinese. There are pros and cons for both a carrier based strategy (the seagulls) or a Doenitz-Uboat based strategy (the squids).

Based on logic and the tactical situation, I would side with the squid. The squid faction has their day when China ordered the 8 Kilos. But apparently the seagulls refused to die out. Maybe no Chinese leader would like to go down like the Emperor who ordered Zheng He’s treasure ships to be burned, changing the world’s most powerful naval power at that era to a path of the long road of civilization decline; or be like the Dowager Empress Su Yi, who instead of using the funds to build a modern navy, built a new palace instead, and cost the Empire the Sino-Japanese war. No Chinese leader today would like to be blamed in the pedastal of history that if China loses a future war decades from now, for whatever reason is the cause, because the loss is blamed for the lack of carriers and a strong navy—things that could only be built in time and long term preparation starting right now.

While I think China is not ready for a carrier yet (not until she proves her worth by getting her navy’s ASW and AA capabilities up by a few big levels) and not at least for this decade, I think they’re preparing for the long term future so when the decision finally comes, they will be ready.