Philippine navy says China’s aircraft carrier capabilities still ‘need decades’ to mature
- The comments were seen as taunts by some, but analysts say they reflect Manila’s actual assessment of Beijing’s naval strength
A senior Philippine navy official has suggested Beijing still “needs decades” to refine its aircraft carrier-based warfare capabilities, in a move interpreted by some as a taunt but with analysts saying it reflects a realistic assessment of China’s naval might.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, a navy spokesman, was asked by reporters on Sunday for his comments on the Shandong – one of China’s three aircraft carriers – being deployed to the waters off the Philippines’ coast last week.
“I told our compatriots that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is still inexperienced. Although they are more advanced than us, it will be a long time before they reach the operational level of their aircraft carriers,” Trinidad said.
The 70,000-tonne aircraft carrier was also monitored sailing in the waters off the northern Philippine island of Luzon last month and parts of the Philippine Sea in October and November.
“We can better understand China’s moves if we know their thinking about war. Their doctrines are number one, if you are strong, show you are weak; number two, if you are weak, show you are strong,” Trinidad said.