Not that I ignore the Korean angle to hostilities on the Korean peninsula, or think the road to unification runs through Beijing, but developments like a new Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) capability will keep me awake at nights. Especially, that is, when Chinese hacks write with this kind of bravado.

In the aftermath of the flare-up between North and South Korea and in response to North Korea’s threat of a “sacred war” using nuclear weapons, The U.S., again, sent nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington and its escorts, the Ronald Reagan and the Carl Vinson, to the waters off the Korean peninsula, supposedly sending a series of messages—-reassurance to the South, and deterrence to the North, but undoubtedly raising tensions in the West Pacific region.

Evidently, the three carriers assembling off the hotspot of simmering Korean crisis is not intended to shoot trouble, but, to create more troubles, with the obvious villain’s design. The appearance of the menacing battle group of warships in the Pacific is not merely the classic projector of American predominance, or a signal usually delivered by Pentagon to show the escalating tensions and Washington’s seriousness, but to turn out targeting China, with the pretext of North Korea’s nuke threat and readiness for war.

It is no longer a secret that Washington eyes Beijing as its strategic rival in the region, and with its “comeback” strategy, the US ambition to regain the privilege in Asia is looming large. To achieve this, it will have to further press the strategic space of a rising China and dilute China’s growing clout over the Asia-Pacific region.

Unfortunately, no matter how the U.S. is sentimentally attached to Carrier, and however amazing aircraft carriers are as weapon systems, over time, the powerful warships’ offensive efficacy has declined, especially in the missile age. They can be sitting ducks when encountering carrier killers like missiles, tactical nuclear weapons, and electromagnetics.

No one doubts even the “impoverished” North Korea would and could build its ballistic missiles system designed to leave a gigantic task force dead in the water. Today, the carrier is not only a muscle-flexing demonstration, a signal of US determination to maintain a presence, but also an easy target.

Andrew S. Erickson “…find[s] it extremely disappointing that Li has only harsh words for the U.S. yet nothing whatsoever to say about North Korea’s aggressive, irresponsible behavior, constant defiance of the United Nations and accepted international norms, and repeated violations of South Korea’s sovereignty—but that unfortunately is emblematic of larger challenges facing Sino-American relations today.” I’m not shocked Beijing takes Pyongyang’s existence so lightly, or as only a pawn in its games. I also think the US Navy can deal with China’s ASBM system. What I do find disconcerting is, that American policy has advanced little further than allowing South Korean dictators a megaphone for their own whacky unification dreams. Now that aircraft carriers will need to dodge missiles, I hope Americans will find out why American soldiers and sailors have to charge into the region.

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Filed under: East Asia, Korea, Maritime, Military, USA Tagged: aircraft carriersm north korea, anti ship ballistic missile, asbm, china, dprk, navy, prc, rok