The concurrent deployment of the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers beyond the First Island Chain represents a significant strategic milestone, highlighting the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) improved capability to coordinate complex naval operations and signaling a shift towards more sophisticated Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) operations between the first and second island chains.
Formation of an operational dual-carrier fleet requires extensive coordination beyond numerical strength, involving integration of escort ships, logistical support, submarines, and carrier-based aviation. The PLA Navy’s recent dual-carrier operations demonstrate a capability previously only fully realized by the United States, positioning the PLAN as a more assertive challenger to U.S. naval dominance.
Operational differences between the PLAN’s two active carriers reveal distinct strategic roles. The Liaoning, constrained by its limited fighter jet capacity and reliance on substantial escort support, is strategically optimized for surface and ground attack missions. In contrast, the Shandong’s superior fighter jet capacity allows for greater flexibility and sortie frequency, underscoring an evolving naval doctrine toward a model combining Soviet-era missile-cruiser strike tactics with modern carrier air operations.
A dual-carrier drill conducted by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in June, likely part of mid-year long-distance maritime training, showcased the Chinese military’s growing maritime power. It also signaled a direct challenge to U.S. naval supremacy (PLA Daily, July 1; China Brief, July 25). While not explicitly targeted at Taiwan, this maneuver may have aimed at initial force concentration through distant naval patrols, simulating anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) operations against potential U.S. interventions.
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