quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
BEIJING — China’s first aircraft carrier has set off for the Western Pacific for an open-sea training exercise, the Defense Ministry said.
State media said Sunday that it is the first time that the Liaoning, which was commissioned by the Chinese navy in 2012, has headed to “distant sea waters.” The Western Pacific region stretches from China to New Zealand and encompasses countries in the Pacific, Oceania and parts of Asia.
The statement said a navy formation including the Liaoning set off Saturday for training in the Western Pacific, without elaborating on the location, as part of an annual training plan.
So begins the end of US dominance of the South Pacific.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/12/25/chinas-first-aircraft-carrier-heads-western-pacific/95836936/

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
BEIJING — China’s first aircraft carrier has set off for the Western Pacific for an open-sea training exercise, the Defense Ministry said.
State media said Sunday that it is the first time that the Liaoning, which was commissioned by the Chinese navy in 2012, has headed to “distant sea waters.” The Western Pacific region stretches from China to New Zealand and encompasses countries in the Pacific, Oceania and parts of Asia.
The statement said a navy formation including the Liaoning set off Saturday for training in the Western Pacific, without elaborating on the location, as part of an annual training plan.
So begins the end of US dominance of the South Pacific.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/12/25/chinas-first-aircraft-carrier-heads-western-pacific/95836936/

While it could signal the beginning of the end, it could also mean jack shit to US dominance in the South Pacific. They have one carrier. One. They are supposedly building more. The ones they are building are their own design, while their first is a refitted Soviet carrier. Does the Chinese Navy have the experience the US Navy has? Will the Chinese carrier(s) be as advanced as the US carriers are?

It's way to early to sound the death knell for US Naval dominance in the South Pacific.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
BEIJING — China’s first aircraft carrier has set off for the Western Pacific for an open-sea training exercise, the Defense Ministry said.
State media said Sunday that it is the first time that the Liaoning, which was commissioned by the Chinese navy in 2012, has headed to “distant sea waters.” The Western Pacific region stretches from China to New Zealand and encompasses countries in the Pacific, Oceania and parts of Asia.
The statement said a navy formation including the Liaoning set off Saturday for training in the Western Pacific, without elaborating on the location, as part of an annual training plan.
So begins the end of US dominance of the South Pacific.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/12/25/chinas-first-aircraft-carrier-heads-western-pacific/95836936/

While it could signal the beginning of the end, it could also mean jack shit to US dominance in the South Pacific. They have one carrier. One. They are supposedly building more. The ones they are building are their own design, while their first is a refitted Soviet carrier. Does the Chinese Navy have the experience the US Navy has? Will the Chinese carrier(s) be as advanced as the US carriers are?

It's way to early to sound the death knell for US Naval dominance in the South Pacific.