Summary

  • USA sending $2B in security aid to nations in Indo-Pacific to counter PRC military activity.
  • PRC aircraft carrier battle group activity concerns Indo-Pacific nations.
  • USA working to accelerate aid delivery to Taiwan and Philippines amidst rising PRC threats.

The United States of America (USA) is not just providing security assistance to Ukraine, but is also about to send $2,000,000,000 ($2 Billion) in security assistance to nations along the Indian and Pacific Oceans. There is deep concern about the increasing activity of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) military towards the Republic of China (aka ROC, Taiwan), the Philippines and other nations – hence a desire to shore up those nations’ defenses, especially as a PRC carrier battle group is at sea.

PRC Carrier Battle Group At Sea

According to a Google Translate of a statement from the Japanese Joint Staff Office – the equivalent of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff that are the leading generals & admirals of the US Military – the Japanese Self-Defense Forces have been tracking a PRC aircraft carrier battle group using both the JS Umigiri destroyer and Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets. Arguably, the most important part of the tracking is this information from the statement,

“During the same period, the Chinese Navy’s Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier “Shandong” recorded a total of approximately 40 takeoffs and landings, including approximately 20 by its carrier-based fighter jets and approximately 20 by its carrier-based helicopters. This brings the total number of takeoffs and landings recorded between July 9 (Tuesday) and 15 (Monday) and between July 17 (Wednesday) and 18 (Thursday) to approximately 420.”

The Shandong Carrier Air Wing Is mainly comprised of Shenyang J-15 “Flying Shark” naval fighter jets – based somewhat on the Su-33 prototype T-10K-3 found in, of all places, Ukraine in 2001. With new avionics and engines but the same aerodynamics, the J-15 can carry a notable payload off of the Shandong’s optimized ski jump.

According to The Diplomat’s report on April 28, 2021 – the J-15 is a serious carrier-borne fighter jet. The J-15 can carry with its 6.5 ton payload two YJ-83K anti-ship missiles with a 124-mile or 200-kilometer range and a decent air-to-air missile load should the J-15 be intercepted. However, this may require the launching aircraft carrier to sail at an operational speed of 28 knots (32 mph, 52 kph).

Finally, this infographic from Ian Ellis Jones shows the sheer number and firepower of PRC Navy and PRC Coast Guard warships on the move:

Some of those PRC warships are currently attempting to defend and enforce PRC territorial claims in the South China Sea. Recent PRC exercises have also tested Taiwan’s air defenses, which has led the United States to desire to shore up defenses in the region.

USA aid package on an accelerated schedule

The USA aid package, according to a July 19 Defense News report, is funded by Foreign Military Financing which can take years to deliver – every effort is being made to accelerate aid. For instance, Taiwan needs USA aid in the form of training and new Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper fighter jets.

shutterstock_1047506623 - Hualien Airport / Taiwan - Sep. 23, 2017: A F-16 fighter is flying when the Taiwan Air Force Performance which is held in the Hualien Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) Base

Photo: jflin98 | Shutterstock

Meanwhile, the Philippines is seeing an increase in aid from $40 million to $500 million. The Philippines are facing more PRC naval and coast guard activity. Want, according to an April 11, 2023, US Department of Defense fact sheet, a fleet of multi-role fighters and medium-lift helicopters to protect the archipelago from PRC encroachment.

There is also a concern as Bonnie Glaser, an expert on the region at the German Marshall Fund think tank voiced to Defense News,

“Most of our weapons are aimed at providing munitions so that they can stop the [People’s Liberation Army] from landing on the beach. But that’s not helping them to deal with the growing [Chinese] coast guard threat.”

With Chinese Coast Guard forces and others working to harass Taiwanese and Philippine maritime commerce activity, there is a deep concern that those nations’ maritime economies may be at risk. This is even with a capable Taiwanese Air Force ready to strike maritime targets if the need arises.

Related

A Deeper Look At The Operational Capabilities Of The Taiwanese Air Force

The organization operates dozens of fighter jets.

Finally, the Brookings Institute argues that a PRC-initiated war could be cataclysmic for the PRC leadership and the PRC is a power about to wane. The PRC does not want to lose connections to the global economy, but the PRC leaders are preparing their people for war.

Considering all of the above, the Philippines Ambassador to the United States, Jose Romualdez, did say to Defense News, “We need to really pump it up as quickly as we can.”

Bottom line

With the PRC preparing its people for war over Taiwan and possibly other places in the Indo-Pacific and conducting exercises with a carrier battle group – there is a sense of urgency for the US to arm up her Indo-Pacific allies. Recently the US led a massive exercise called Rim of the Pacific or RIMPAC. One can watch a 60 Minutes Australia report:

It is likely that Indo-Pacific nations will receive improved aircraft and munitions, such as the Harpoon anti-ship missile, to contain the PRC naval and airpower threats. Hopefully one will still realize aircraft carriers are still relevant also.

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