Deterrent message to the US in China's anti-ship missile exercise
China's drills in the East China Sea may be preparing to counter anti-ship weapons from the US and its allies.
Ten Type 056 frigates from various Chinese naval units participated in an anti-ship missile interception exercise in the East China Sea last weekend. Beijing said the exercise was aimed at enhancing the Chinese navy's combat readiness against potential opponents at sea.
However, experts say this exercise could be China's response to the anti-ship firepower display (SINKEX) by the US, Japan and Australia.during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018 exercise last month, according toBusiness Insider.
''Intercepting anti-ship missiles is an urgent task as regional threats are increasing. Missile defense capabilities are key to building a modern navy,'' Chinese military expert Song Zhongping said.seems to want to send a message of deterrence to the US and its allies.
During the SINKEX exercise, the US, Japanese and Australian militaries deployed many aircraft, warships and submarines to detect and simultaneously launch anti-ship missiles to destroy enemy warships.
In the recent exercise in the East China Sea, the target of the Chinese frigates was the enemy's anti-ship missile. The Meizhou, equipped with both anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, of the South Sea Fleet, opened fire and shot down an incoming anti-ship missile.
Meanwhile, the Tonggren-class frigate of the East Sea Fleet intentionally missed its target on its first attempt to test its ability to continue tracking and shooting down enemy missiles.
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A Type-056 frigate launches an anti-ship missile during a drill in 2016. Photo:Sina |
"If the first interception is unsuccessful, the ships must maneuver to a new position to continue firing," the Chinese navy revealed the content of the exercise. In addition to the task of intercepting anti-ship missiles, the warships also conducted anti-submarine exercises, to prepare for a scenario of confronting enemy submarine forces.
According to analyst Ryan Pickrell, the exercise shows Beijing's concerns and how it is dealing with the threat from Washington's modern anti-ship weapons.
The Type-056s will become air defense and anti-submarine shields to protect China's aircraft carrier fleet from anti-ship weapons, while large warships like the Type-054A and Type-052C/D will create air defense umbrellas, intercepting enemy cruise missile-carrying aircraft from a distance.
China is aggressively boosting its naval capabilities by building new aircraft carriers and heavy cruisers, raising concerns about its more assertive actions with neighboring countries in maritime disputes.
In response to China’s exercises in the East China Sea, Japan said it would deploy an elite marine unit to participate in defense exercises and recapture offshore islands this year. Tokyo also re-established the Rapid Deployment Landing Brigade, to counter Beijing’s ambitions in the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the sea.
