As we had learned from previous posts, the PLAN can expand its navy during war, weaponize and mobilize over 172,000 sea vessels.
You can read more about this in the following previous posts:
China using fishing fleets to expand maritime claims: US official
China Prepares Its 172,000 Civilian Ships for War
US Navy’s Challenge in South China Sea? Sheer Number of Chinese Ships
China practices Taiwan invasion with civilian ferries, bomber flights in Bashi Channel
A lot of naysayers would immediately dismiss the threat, however, 172,000 vessels loaded with anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, ICBMs, or God forbid a nuclear weapon, would be a problem for the U.S. Navy. Shipping containers can easily disguise mobile nukes loaded on freighters. Even half or a quarter of the amount of ships loaded with weapons would keep anyone out that doesn’t want to lose an entire fleet… or more.
Donald Trump’s comments over the South China Sea have sparked powerful response from China [Getty]
HUNDREDS of warships, including aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and a destroyer force, could soon be patrolling the Asia–Pacific as tensions between Beijing and Washington reach boiling point.
China is refusing to back down over President Donald Trump’s apparent interest in interfering with the ongoing turf war in the South China Sea.
With Xi Jinping’s nation being economically strong, it has the money and capability to massively expand its armed forces.
And that is exactly what the Chinese Communist Party is doing.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Navy is growing faster than expected, with plans to push out hundreds of vessels to work in the oceans.
A new destroyer and corvette have been launched with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (Navy) – or PLA(N) in the last three weeks alone.
The US Navy remains the world’s most powerful but in recent decades China has pushed forward with plans to catch up.
PLA(N) Commander between August 1982 and January 1988 General Liu Huaqing was the first in his role to consider Chinese domination of the Pacific.
Admiral Liu Huaqing allegedly had designs to take control of island chains in the Pacific, before controlling the entire region before 2050.
Admiral Shen Jinlong, previously commander of China’s South Sea Fleet, has taken the reins as Commander of the PLA(N), with Admiral Yuan Yubai moving to command the Southern Theatre Command from running the North Sea Fleet.
China is currently developing floating nuclear power stations and permanent military bases in the South China Sea – giving them the edge over those who also claim territory there.
The state-owned Global Times reported China plans to build as many as 20 floating nuclear power plants, the first of which could be producing power in just a few years
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Beijing warned Washington to tread carefully around the issue, adding it would take a “war” to get them to back down.
Full article: WARNING TO TRUMP: China to flex military muscle with FIVE HUNDRED warships (Express)
Global Geopolitics 