Chinese Navy Growth: Massive Expansion Of Important Shipyard

[beijingwalker]

Chinese Navy Growth: Massive Expansion Of Important Shipyard​

China has an ambition to expand and modernize its navy on a scale not seen in any other country. Analysis of satellite imagery suggests that one of China's most important shipyards is being increased in size.​

15 Mar 2022

Click To Enlarge. Analysis of satellite imagery confirms steady construction on the new site fore over a year. Key roads and buildings are already present, and there are indications of dry dock construction.

Jiangnan shipyard on the Yangtze River in Shanghai is important for the Chinese Navy (PLAN). It builds aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and submarines. The correspondingly large shipyard occupies over 7.3 square kilometers (2.8 square miles). Now a new yard next door, associated with the Hudong-Zhonghua yard will expand the shipbuilding area by around 50%.

Work has already started. Analysis of satellite imagery confirms construction visually matching the expected expansion.

The incredible growth of the Chinese Navy has seen several shipyards expanded already. Jiangnan shipyard, which is situated next to the new site, has itself been expanded massively in recent years. Added to this, new facilities to build large numbers of submarines has been set up near Wuhan. And the nuclear submarine facilities at Huludao have also been massively expanded. Now the new work at Jiangnan takes this further still.

The new facilities will dramatic increase capacity at the yard. It is expected to have a basin for fitting out ships and a large multi-berth dry dock.

A Fleet of 6 Aircraft Carriers​

The U.S. Navy expects that the Chinese Navy may operate 6 aircraft carriers by 2040. Currently only two are operational, built at Dalian in Northern China. But the third, the improved and enlarged Type-003, is under construction at Jiangnan. It seems likely that one or more of the additional carriers will also be built at Jiangnan.

One hypothesis is that China will built nuclear powered aircraft carriers. These may be even larger still than the Type-003, which is anyway almost the same size as the U.S. Navy’s Ford Class. The larger ship, and new technologies involved, may dictate a new construction site. This is one explanation for the new site.

There are rumors that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, if the plan exists, has been put on hold. Even if it is delayed however, it may still be a factor in the shipyard expansion.

Beyond Carriers​

It is not just aircraft carriers of course. Hyudong have also been building warships, including the Type-071 landing ships and Type-075 assault carrier. It also builds the more numerous Type-054A frigate, many of which are for export. In fact the export orders may be getting in the way of PLAN construction at its existing site in Shanghai. This may be one motivation for the new site.

Some Type-055 Renhai class cruisers and Type-052D destroyers are also built on the Jiangnan side. Additionally, large space tracking ships, hovercraft and experimental submarines have recently been launched.

Both shipbuilders have a rich history, and both are now part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) which is the world’s largest shipbuilder. As well as warships they also build merchant ships. These include ginormous container ships which are larger than the aircraft carriers.

There is naturally a lack of clarity in some of the available information. Some sources suggest that the Like many things with the Chinese Navy and shipyards we may be kept guessing until the end. But analysts will be watching developments closely.

Chinese Navy Growth: Massive Expansion Of Important Shipyard - Naval News

China has an ambition to expand and modernize its navy on a scale not seen in any other country. Analysis of satellite imagery suggests that one of China's most important shipyards is being increased in size.

www.navalnews.com

 

[beijingwalker]

China and US naval strength comparsion in Asia-Pacific region by 2025

 

[FuturePAF]

China is ramping up because it looks like it will have to protect its SLOCs and the BRI. A similar incident as the 1993 Yinhe incident is possible.

 

[American College Student]

China is ramping up because it looks like it will have to protect its SLOCs and the BRI. A similar incident as the 1993 Yinhe incident is possible.

What are SLOCs and BRI?

 

[_NOBODY_]

What are SLOCs and BRI?

SLOC stands for sea lines of communication which are the primary maritime routes between ports, used for trade, logistics and naval forces. It is generally used in reference to naval operations to ensure that SLOCs are open, or in times of war, to close them. BRI is of course The Belt and Road Initiative.

 

[American College Student]

SLOC stand for sea lines of communication which are the primary maritime routes between ports, used for trade, logistics and naval forces. It is generally used in reference to naval operations to ensure that SLOCs are open, or in times of war, to close them. BRI is of course The Belt and Road Initiative.

Once China gets BRI fully operational, such would signal its return to the premier status that it enjoyed prior to about 1800. In the large-scale scheme of things the situation of the Past 200 years in which China tended to be relatively weak is the historical aberration.

 

[_NOBODY_]

Once China gets BRI fully operational, such would signal its return to the premier status that it enjoyed prior to about 1800. In the large-scale scheme of things the situation of the Past 200 years in which China tended to be relatively weak is the historical aberration.

That should happen before the completion of BRI.

 

[FuturePAF]

That should happen before the completion of BRI.

It was just reported today China is loan Nigeria up to $80-100 Billion to modernize their Railways. Railways across Africa will open up a lot of opportunities for Chinese projects and sales as that the population in Africa is set to double in the next 25-30 years.

 

[_NOBODY_]

It was just reported today China is loan Nigeria up to $80-100 Billion to modernize their Railways. Railways across Africa will open up a lot of opportunities for Chinese projects and sales as that the population in Africa is set to double in the next 25-30 years.

These are just the infrastructure projects, after this China will rapidly industrialize Africa. Imagine an industrialized Africa under China's control.

 

[FuturePAF]

These are just the infrastructure projects, after this China will rapidly industrialize Africa. Imagine an industrialized Africa under China's control.

China doesn’t want “under China’s control”, that kind of structure would be more of a liability then an asset. But they do need to develop a mechanism to help support stability in Africa.

 

[_NOBODY_]

China doesn’t want “under China’s control”, it more of a liability then an asset. But they do need to develop a mechanism to help support stability in Africa.

They may be considered a liability now but 50 years later it won't be a liability, industrialized Africa would be a huge asset for China in the future.

 

[MajesticPug]

These are just the infrastructure projects, after this China will rapidly industrialize Africa. Imagine an industrialized Africa under China's control.

China doesn’t want “under China’s control”, it more of a liability then an asset. But they do need to develop a mechanism to help support stability in Africa.

What China wants to build are strategic partnerships in different areas. These areas could be safety, food supplies, oil, minerals, manufacturing, communications, etc. The partnerships will be flexible, not taking over sovereign decisions of other nations, proactive, and require initiatives from the partnering sovereign nations. They will not form the liability like an ally or a controlled puppet like UK is to US, or Lithuania is to EU. The partnership structure works out better too because respect and supports are built-in, and commitments must be preceded by initiatives. If a government is changed, either by election or coup, the new government will have to make initiatives if it wants to be in the partnership.

 

[FuturePAF]

What China wants to build are strategic partnerships in different areas. These areas could be safety, food supplies, oil, minerals, manufacturing, communications, etc. The partnerships will be flexible, not taking over sovereign decisions of other nations, proactive, and require initiatives from the partnering sovereign nations. They will not form the liability like an ally or a controlled puppet like UK is to US, or Lithuania is to EU. The partnership structure works out better too because respect and supports are built-in, and commitments must be preceded by initiatives. If a government is changed, either by election or coup, the new government will have to make initiatives if it wants to be in the partnership.

Exactly, the partnerships, with China and regionally are the key. No one expects China to take over the sovereign decision making authority of these nations, but work with them as much as possible.

 

[Al_Muhannad]

premier status that it enjoyed prior to about 1800

pre 1453

 

[Maula Jatt]

It was just reported today China is loan Nigeria up to $80-100 Billion to modernize their Railways. Railways across Africa will open up a lot of opportunities for Chinese projects and sales as that the population in Africa is set to double in the next 25-30 years.

That's a lot of money - I doubt they can pay it back easily...