On May 17, 2022, Taiwanese media outlet Nownews.com reported that earlier in May the CCP aircraft carrier Liaoning had conducted combat training drills in the Western Pacific. The timing of the drills coincided with the 38th annual Han Kuang drill by the Taiwanese military, held May 16-20. The Han Kuang live-fire component is scheduled for July 25-29.
The article quoted Lin Ying Yu (林颖佑), adjunct assistant professor for Asia-Pacific Affairs at National Sun Yat-Sen University as stating that although the Liaoning is an outdated aircraft carrier, "its formation's training and exercises on the east coast are intended to 'seize key points,' which may be the spots where Taiwanese warships will move in the future, or may be the positions where the U.S. fleet will support Taiwan or intimidate the Communist Army in the future."
Chieh Chung (揭仲), an associate researcher at the National Policy Foundation, added that in the event of war, if the U.S. fleet rushes from the South China Sea to Taiwan to assist it, Beijing would maneuver south to attack the U.S. fleet in conjunction with Beijing's air strike aircraft group. "This was the scenario of the recent Communist military exercises," the article reported.
Below is the article:[1]
(Source: Navy.81.cn)
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Beijing May Launch A 'Pincer Attack Along [Taiwan's] Northeastern Waters Against The Eastern Coast Of Taiwan'
"The Communist Army's aircraft carrier Liaoning and its fleet of several warships entered the West Pacific from the East China Sea early this month for training and exercise, conducted in waters 250 to 300 kilometers east of Taiwan for more than 10 consecutive days. The timing happened to coincide with the 'war game' part of the 38th edition of the annual Han Kuang drill of the Taiwanese military. Experts warned that in the past, after being attacked, the training troops of the Han Kuang exercise would move to the east to 'preserve military strength' after being attacked, but the eastern part of Taiwan could be hit in the future.
"Lin Ying Yu (林颖佑), adjunct assistant professor for Asia-Pacific Affairs at National Sun Yat-Sen University, said that in the past, our country recognized that an attack of the Communist Army might pose a threat to the west coast, fighter planes and ships would move to the east during the Han Kuang exercise. Now, however, the threat will come not only from the west or the southwest airspace; the Communist warships may depart from the Dalian naval port in the Northern Theater Command and carry out a pincer attack along our northeastern waters against the eastern coast of Taiwan.
"Lin Ying Yu said that although the Liaoning is an outdated aircraft carrier, its formation's training and exercises on the east coast are intended to 'seize key points,' which may be the spots where Taiwanese warships will move in the future, or may be the positions where the U.S. fleet will support Taiwan or intimidate the Communist Army in the future. It is worth noting that this time the Liaoning aircraft carrier formation of the Chinese Communist Army includes not only the Liaoning, but also the Type 055 missile destroyers. Therefore, the exercise is not just about the takeoff and landing of fighter jets, but also the training of the fleet and the anti-ship missiles on the Type 055 destroyers.
"As for how to respond, Lin Ying Yu said that the combat power of fighter jets should not only be kept in [Taiwan's] Chiashan Air Force Base in Hualien County. We can also consider setting up a combat readiness runway for fighter jets to take off and land in Taitung as previously reported. Air force airfields should also strengthen their anti-bomb capabilities. In addition, in order to restrain the surface forces of the Communist Army, our National Army should build more submarine units.
If Beijing Attempts 'To Invade Taiwan Or Engage In Confrontation With The U.S. Forces In The West Pacific,' Then Beijing Must 'Seize A Tactical Position East Of Taiwan And In The Western Pacific'
"Chieh Chung (揭仲), an associate researcher at the National Policy Foundation, said that both the Han Kuang exercise and the long-distance training of the Liaoning are routine exercises; the Liaoning fleet has long-distance training in the first and second half of each year. The two may not be directly targeting one another, but if the CCP's People's Liberation Army attempts to invade Taiwan or engage in confrontation with the U.S. forces in the West Pacific, then the Communist carrier battle group must first seize a tactical position east of Taiwan and in the western Pacific, which should be not too far from Japan's Okinotori Reef.
"Chieh Chung expressed that if the Communist Army seizes the tactical position, their Type 055 destroyers can launch YJ-18 anti-ship missiles to attack the naval combat power save area of our National Army. It can also attack the Chiashan Air Force Base in the east of Taiwan using cruise missiles with a range of 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers, which is already beyond the National Army's Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles. It is also on the edge of the range limit of the Harpoon anti-ship missiles that the F-16 fighter jets are paired with. In addition, the Type 055 destroyers can launch YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles to attack the U.S. fleet.
"Chieh Chung indicated that if the U.S. fleet rushes from the South China Sea to Taiwan for assistance, then the Communist aircraft carrier formation, which has occupied a tactical position in the west Pacific, east of Taiwan, can maneuver south to attack the U.S. fleet in conjunction with the Communist air strike aircraft group. This was the scenario of the recent Communist military exercises. If the Chinese communist Party has its third and fourth aircraft carriers, it can maintain a carrier battle group in the western Pacific for regular patrols during peacetime, and it will not have to risk crossing the Miyako Strait in wartime. This will be a difficult situation for our country, and in this case, only the submarines can meet this threat."
[1] Nownews.com/news/5806844?from=Yahoo&utm_source=NaturalLink&utm_medium=Yahoo&utm_campaign=20220517, May 17, 2022.
