Opinion | What does it mean to be strong and powerful? PLA Navy defined by its naval power
By Augustus K. Yeung
Recently Wang Yi said China was ready to lift partnership with Malaysia to higher levels. This is the language of Chinese diplomacy. The same thing applies to the PLA; technological upgrading is the name of the game.
Me too. When as a little boy I was exposed to a Chinese writer whose pen name was Bing Sim (or heart of ice). Her short piece, "Boat Made of Paper, Meant for Mother (In Heaven)" must have inspired a generation of Chinese boys and girls, me included.
Interested in this child-centered educator, I researched, and I found out that her father was a Chinese Naval Captain, saying to myself, "Ah, there you are, a young girl missing a seafaring father – with mother in heaven."
My research work on her led to the findings that she, being a university professor, had mercerized her relationships with American educators. She was a respectable and respectful educator that had inspired a generation of Chinese students.
Most importantly, like her, I have learned to love battleships and the sea.
However, the Qing Dynasty's fleet of naval ships that was defeated in the Yellow Sea in 1894 marked a sad moment in my childhood life. Since then, I have decided not to see my country humiliated by a foreign power such as Japan.
National security and self-sufficiency had since become my goal that fueled my academic life.
At the time when I came across a newspaper article titled, "PLA Navy launches next-gen frigate," I instinctively knew that this article is an important piece. The following well-researched paper is one that captures my imagination.
China's new-generation class of guided missile frigate, the Type 054B, will feature a long operational range, more functions and stronger combat capability, according to Chinese military observers.
Type 054B is an upgraded variant of Type 054A, the most deployed frigate class in the People's Liberation Army Navy. About 30 Type 054As are in service with the Navy.
According to images taken and published online by Chinese weapons enthusiasts, the lead ship is the Type 054B class was recently launched at a China State Shipbuilding Corp shipyard in Shanghai, marking its first public appearance.
The launch is one of the most important stages in a ship's construction because once a ship is launched, it means that its major structures have been readied and the major work of the entire construction project has been completed.
Cao Weidong a retired senior researcher from the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said the Type 054B will displace about 6,000 tons, which means the new model will be able to sail further, carry more weapons and munitions, and perform more kinds of tasks" he said.
"The new frigate may be capable of carrying land-attack cruise missiles that will enable it to hit ground targets, a capability that previous Chinese frigates do not have," the researcher said.
He noted that the new ship will also boast better information-processing capacity and stealth design, which will give it better agility and situational awareness as well as higher survivability in combat.
"These advantages will make Type 054B an attractive, competitive option on the international arms market and will be likely to attract many foreign navies seeking powerful and affordable frigates."
Song Zhongping, a military affairs commentator and retired PLA officer, said after nearly two decades of service for the Type 054A, it is natural for the Navy to acquire and deploy a new type of frigate incorporating the latest technology and tactics.
"The Type 054B will be more suitable for ocean operations, those far from Chinese coasts, and will better fit an escort role in an aircraft carrier battle group. It said, will hunt hostile submarines on the periphery of the carrier group and can also conduct anti-craft and anti-missile operations – to assist the air defense network formed by destroyers," he said.
Song said, the new vessel will be able to carry a Z-20 helicopter to conduct reconnaissance and hunt submarines. By contrast, the Type 054A can only carry a smaller Z-9 helicopter that has shorter airborne time and fewer weapons.
At a recent news conference, Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian confirmed the frigate model's construction in the first official statement about the vessel.
Wu described the development of this new ship by the PLA Navy as a "normal arrangement" based on the country's national security and the overall buildup plan of the Navy, adding that this new hardware will be used to "safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests" –and to "better protect global and regional peace and stability".
Western weapons observers said the Type 054B will be equipped with a 32-cell vertical launch system capable of firing various types of missiles and rocket-assisted torpedoes, a 100-millimeter-caliber main gun, and a rotating active electronically scanned array radar. (Source: China Daily)
Once I bought a priced history book which showed a caricature with the inscription, "TIME WILL TELL, WHO RULES THE WAVES," published by North China Daily News, November 23, 1934.
In that picture, a Russian cartoonist Sapajou, timely captured the news under fire, showing a Chinese junk – confronted by three-nation steaming battleships, each with the inscription of GREAT BRITAIN, JAPAN, USA.
Then, all these three countries have had huge fleets of battleships which were confronting the Chinese junk with a lone sailor smoking his pipe-gun, battling the waves – at the mercy of the three big naval powers.
In 2024, dating back to 1934 the PLA Navy has come a long way – nearly a century.
With two powers gone, the days of wine and roses are over for GREAT BRITAIN and JAPAN, leaving the U.S. Navy to solely "rule the waves".
History, then and now, clearly shows that the world order needs a redress of balance. With China on the rise, isn't it time that the PLA Navy, too, "rule the waves" to guard China and the ASEAN development?
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
To contact the writer, please direct email: AugustusKYeung@ymail.com
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