WW3 Panic as Satellite Image Shows China's £7bn Secret Warship Doing Military Drills
The global community has been sent into alarm after a satellite image showed China's secretive £7 billion warship, the CNS Liaoning, undertaking military drills in the Pacific Ocean. This latest development raises concerns about China's growing naval power and its strategic positioning in contested waters.
The Discovery of the Liaoning
Captured by NASA's Landsat 8 satellite, the images reveal China's aircraft carrier, CNS Liaoning, conducting intense sea trials. The images further reveal the warship anchoring into a port on the Bohai Sea, off the east coast of mainland China. The Liaoning — which cost a whopping £7.1 billion (around $9 billion) — has been regarded as a symbol of the naval expansion of China.
Tensions with Japan
This military move comes as tensions in the region rise, particularly with Japan. In September, Tokyo accused China of entering Japanese waters after the Liaoning, accompanied by two destroyers, was spotted in waters under Japan's control. Beijing, however, dismissed the accusations, asserting that the aircraft carrier's movements were part of a routine training mission in the Pacific, conducted in accordance with international laws.
Dual Aircraft Carrier Exercises in the South China Sea
In another significant development, earlier this month China conducted joint exercises with both the Liaoning and its sister ship, the Shandong, in the South China Sea. These exercises marked the first time the two aircraft carriers participated in dual carrier formation drills together. The PLAN confirmed on its Weibo account that the vessels sailed through the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, building up its combat capabilities in disputed territories as China presses its territorial claims.
China's Growing Influence in the South Pacific
Meanwhile, China is not falling behind in the South Pacific, where it has forged new alliances: it recently signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands and it has made effective political headways with Nauru. The growing influence of China within this region was supported by extensive investments in infrastructure aimed at securing political allegiance from smaller Pacific nations.
Conclusion
Meanwhile, the deployment of the CNS Liaison in the Pacific, dual aircraft carrier exercises, and expanding influence of China in the South Pacific have sent alarm bells ringing across the globe. So long as Beijing continues this rush to claim its great power influence in regional waters, the possibilities of military conflict never seem far from the surface. Only time will tell how global powers, especially the United States and Japan, will react to these growing acts of military and political Muscle-Flexing on the part of China. Watch for further updates on this dynamic developing story as we keep you abreast of all the latest military and geopolitical developments.
For more about military and international news, remember to follow and subscribe to us for timely, updated information.