Image source: topwar.ru
China is doing everything to prevent the US Navy from conducting effective combat operations, in case of their occurrence. in the western Pacific Ocean and especially in the South China Sea. To do this, Beijing is steadily increasing its anti-submarine potential. The United States called this military doctrine of China "Access Denial" (Access Denial — AD). American military expert Gary Anderson in an article published on the website Military.com, discusses who will be the winner in the event of a military confrontation between America and China.
In the event of a naval conflict with the United States, China intends to use long-range missiles to destroy American bases in the region, in Japan and on Guam, in order to deprive the US army of air cover. At sea, the Chinese are going to use manned and unmanned aerial vehicles and orbital installations to strike enemy ships with cruise missiles. Beijing also plans to use submarines and small surface ships in this so-called "swarm tactics".
This is a good strategy to deter a stronger enemy, according to a military expert, but it has one significant drawback. A total blockade will not only stop the attacks of the US Navy on the Chinese mainland, but will also deprive the Chinese themselves of the opportunity to use regional sea routes. The Chinese economy is very dependent on exports, and the implementation of the plan to maximize the deterrence of enemy naval forces by all means deprives Beijing of the possibility of sending merchant ships.
The author cites the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as an example. According to the expert, Ukraine, using a small arsenal of anti-ship missiles, does not allow Russian troops to conduct amphibious operations. As a result, the movement of civilian vessels in the Black Sea is completely stopped. In this confrontation, Kiev, as stated, effectively restrains the Russian Navy with small forces, but at the same time deprives itself of the opportunity to carry out trade supplies to neighboring countries.
The authors of the "Denial of Access" doctrine count on a long confrontation with America, in fact, implementing a naval blockade of the PRC. In their opinion, this should weaken the US economy. But such a confrontation is also disastrous for China itself.
- the expert believes.
China needs a short war. The current situation in Ukraine shows the danger hidden in the assumptions about a short war, Anderson believes.
In this hypothetical naval confrontation between the two countries, America urgently needs to take measures to increase the number of ships in service with the US Navy. Otherwise, there is a real threat that "we will run out of ships before China runs out of smart weapons," the author of the article writes. After all, if Beijing is confident that it will be able to withstand a long-term naval confrontation with the American fleet, then it will be impossible to prevent its aggression (American interpretation) against Taiwan.
