Chinese Navy operations to advance its battle formations in the western and northern Pacific continue unabated. Meanwhile, continued joint naval operations between the Russian and Chinese navies in the area add up. A July 14 "Chinese Ministry of Defense Communiqué," in accordance with the annual plan between China and Russia, reports that Chinese and Russian naval formations recently carried out the fourth joint maritime patrol in the waters of the North and West Pacific
by Nicola e Gabriele Iuvinale
First, there is the action of the aircraft carrier "Shandong. According to a report by the Department of General Staff and Supervision of the Ministry of Defense of Japan dated July 9, at around 7 a.m., the destroyer "Akebono" of the Japanese Self-Defense Force's 5th Escort Group stationed in Sasebo discovered a target in the waters about 520 kilometers southeast of Miyako Island; it was the PLAN's "Shandong" carrier battle group sailing eastward.
According to the report, there were four surface ships in the aircraft carrier battle group "Shandong." In addition to the aircraft carrier as a base ship, there were also a large destroyer 055 No. 106 "Yan'an" and another air defense destroyer Type 052D No. 164, the "Guilin," a frigate Type 054A No. 571 and the "Yuncheng."
During the previous navigation in the South China Sea, the "Shandong" group consisted of two large 055 destroyers, two more 052D and two 054A type frigates, plus a large 901 supply ship. Before leaving the Bashi Strait, the size of the "Shandong" carrier battle group was reduced and there were no supply ships accompanying it.
It is assumed that the battle group of the "Shandong" was divided into two groups, with the "Shandong" and the large supply ship 901 as the main ships in the formation.
It has been four days since the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force discovered the aircraft carrier "Shandong" and it is unclear where it is currently located. But, after 19 days at sea, it should currently be in the Philippine Sea, between the island of Luzon and Guam.
The "Shandong" would pass the first island chain and be in the Philippine Sea. The Chinese Navy's northbound fleet, however, went even farther.
According to information from the U.S. Coast Guard dated July 10, it discovered three Chinese military vessels about 100 nautical miles north of Amchitka Strait in the Aleutian Islands exclusive economic zone. An HC-130J transport aircraft from the coast and the Kodiak Guard Air Station identified another Chinese military vessel about 70 nautical miles north of the Amukta Strait.
Judging from the navigational position, the so-called "Amchitka Strait" mentioned by the U.S. Coast Guard is supposed to be the strait on the side of Amchitka Island, a small island in the central Aleutians. It is located 100 nautical miles north of this strait, which penetrates into the Bering Sea. The other location, Amchitka Strait, probably refers to Amchitka Island in the Aleutian Islands. It is located in the sea between Seguam Island and the Four Mountains Islands, a sufficient distance from the former Amchitka Island. This means that the Chinese navy fleet that entered the Bering Sea was divided into two staggers on the left and right, with three and one warships in each stagger.
As for the four Chinese ships mentioned by the U.S. Navy, these are the Chinese naval fleet that crossed the Tsugaru and Soy straits in early July. According to information from the Department of General Staff and Supervision of the Ministry of Defense, between June 30 and July 1, the Chinese Navy's Type 052D destroyer No. 124 "Kaifeng" and PLAN's Type 054A frigate No. 538 "Yantai" crossed the Tsugaru Strait and entered the western Pacific Ocean. Also on July 1, the Department of Integrated Personnel Supervision discovered that the Chinese Navy's 055 large destroyer No. 102 "Lhasa" and a Type 903A fleet supply ship were crossing the Soy Strait between northern Hokkaido and Sakhalin Island.
The two formations left the Japanese archipelago almost simultaneously. Ten days have now passed and it is known where the four surface ships ended up. According to Chinese sources, the two PLAN formations left the straits of Soya and Tsugaru to sail north and, through the strait between Bering Island and the Kamchatka Peninsula, enter the Bering Sea.
After sailing into the Bering Sea, the fleet again split into two left and right staggers, heading south through the Amchitka and Amkta straits respectively; it is estimated to have returned to North Pacific waters from about July 1 to 10.
In addition, the Chinese Navy also held joint military exercises with the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy in Zhanjiang and Guangdong.
The significance of military actions
Each operation mentioned has a definite strategic-military significance.
For the aircraft carrier battle group "Shandong," the Philippine Sea where it operates is of great importance to the Chinese Navy, the U.S. Navy and even the Philippines. For the U.S. Navy, the Philippine Sea is a barrier to Guam, and it is also the strike position of air and surface ships planned by the U.S. Navy to attack mainland China during a possibilr war.
The Philippine Sea is considered one of the best launch sites.
Consequently, the Chinese Navy must push its line of defense toward the Philippine Sea to disrupt the U.S. Navy's attack position against mainland China. In addition, it must effectively deter Guam, the Palau Islands and Tinian Island, if necessary by destroying the operation of the aforementioned islands as important bases of operations for the U.S. Navy and Air Force.
In contrast, for Chinese experts, the Philippines would be an insignificant presence in the Chinese Navy's battle plan. The PLAN battle group, with aircraft carriers, deployed in the Philippine Sea, in cooperation with the navy and air force in the southern theater, could attack the Philippine island of Luzon from two directions.
The annual PLAN training program is regularly held in the Philippine Sea. This is such an important maritime area that it could effectively advance the Chinese Navy's line of defense and at the same time deter the U.S. military's advanced points of presence in the second island chain.
Regarding the Chinese naval formation that left the Bering Sea and sailed for the Aleutian Islands, Chinese sources report that one phrase could be used to describe it well: "The enemy can go and so can we." Now China has shown that it can also enter the exclusive economic zone of the United States to practice free navigation. The PLAN has worked hard for this achievement and for free navigation in the exclusive economic zones of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands in the United States.
Over the past few years, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard have notified the Chinese Navy's hydrographic surveillance ships that they have been operating near the Bering Strait several times to collect hydrographic information in relevant maritime areas. This was clearly done so that the Chinese Navy would move northward and enter the Bering Sea.
In addition, the Chinese Navy has deployed surface ships in the Bering Sea. Chinese experts clearly believe that the purpose goes beyond freedom of navigation.
After all, because of the geographic location of the Bering Sea, the 17th and 19th Submarine Squadrons of the 9th Submarine Group are stationed right at the U.S. Navy's Kitsap-Bangor Naval Base and often use the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska as their main bases.
Do Chinese military experts advise the high commands, after reaching the Bering Sea, to place sonar buoys in that area. Go down and place ocean observation instruments to monitor the U.S. Navy's movements in the Bering Sea or even the Gulf of Alaska.
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