The 19,500-tonne behemoth, described as a destroyer but with the capacity to carry up to 14 helicopters on its 250m (820ft) long flight deck, has also been criticised as a disguised attempt to boost the country’s offensive military capabilities – strictly limited by its constitution.
“We express our concern at Japan’s constant expansion of its military equipment. This trend is worthy of high vigilance by Japan’s Asian neighbors and the international community,” China’s defense ministry told AFP.China which claims the Senkaku islands fears that with the US's pivot towards Asia away from Europe could in some measure inhibit its rise as an economic and military superpower that rivals America's taking the place of the former Soviet Union as a counter to American power in the Western Pacific.
“Japan should learn from history, adhere to its policy of self-defense and abide by its promise of taking the road of peaceful development.”
Actions taken by the Chinese government however haven't calmed the nerves of governments it has territorial disputes with. China recently created its own coast guard combining several maritime agencies to create it.
China’s reorganized coast guard, which was formally inaugurated on Monday, merges four agencies responsible for fisheries administration, maritime surveillance, customs enforcement and border control. Chinese officials said the move would help boost efficiency in law enforcement and “better safeguard China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
The new service is being equipped with ships from the four bodies being eliminated, along with newly built or repurposed craft that could make it Asia’s biggest and most powerful coast guard. The ships are believed to be lightly armed with machine guns and possibly cannons, giving them teeth to back China’s claims to seas and islands if Beijing wished to do so.
China's territorial disputes aren't exclusive to Japan but include Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and several nations in the South China sea. Chinese government policy has aggressively asserted its sovereignty over vast areas of seas to China's south using Nine Dotted Line map which is u-shaped which includes the Spratly and Paracel islands along with the Scarborough shoals.
China claims the Scarborough Shoal which is located just 198 km (123 miles) west of Subic Bay the Philippines. Following the line south from Taiwan it comes within the Philippines exclusive economic zone as was established under the United Nations Law of the Sea convention.
While Japan may have launched a new helicopter carrier yesterday in Yokohama it doesn't come close to rivaling the actual aircraft carrier China now has in service.
Liaoning (16), is the first aircraft carrier commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).[2] Originally laid down as the Admiral Kuznetsov class multirole aircraft carrier Riga for the Soviet Navy, she was launched on December 4, 1988 and renamed Varyag in 1990. The stripped hulk was purchased in 1998 by the People's Republic of China and towed to Dalian Shipyard in north eastern China. After being completely rebuilt and undergoing sea trials, the ship was commissioned into the PLAN as Liaoning on September 25, 2012.[2]
China can issue statements asking Japan to remember history however due to its aggressive territorial claims countries that once would have voiced concern over the commissioning of its most recent helicopter carrier welcome it as they see it as a counterweight to China's increased military spending and build-up of its navel forces.
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