China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities Background and Issues for Congress
Abstract
China is building a modern and regionally powerful navy with a limited but growing capability for conducting operations beyond Chinas near-seas region. Observers of Chinese and U.S. military forces view Chinas improving naval capabilities as posing a potential challenge in the Western Pacific to the U.S. Navys ability to achieve and maintain control of blue-water ocean areas in wartimethe first such challenge the U.S. Navy has faced since the end of the Cold War. More broadly, these observers view Chinas naval capabilities as a key element of an emerging broader Chinese military challenge to the long-standing status of the United States as the leading military power in the Western Pacific. The question of how the United States should respond to Chinas military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, is a key issue in U.S. defense planning. Chinas naval modernization effort encompasses a broad array of platform and weapon acquisition programs, including anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), submarines, surface ships, aircraft, and supporting C4ISR (command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) systems. Chinas naval modernization effort also includes improvements in maintenance and logistics, doctrine, personnel quality, education and training, and exercises.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1013821
Entities
People
- Ronald O'Rourke
Organizations
- Congressional Research Service