(People’s Daily Online) 15:44, June 23, 2016
On June 18, an article on the website of the National Interest “The Ultimate Way to Sink an Aircraft Carrier” said that “…American and Japanese subs that will undoubtedly hound the Liaoning every time she leaves port, practicing to sink the carrier in the event of war.”
Regarding this, Cao Weidong, a military expert, said at a TV program that if the Liaoning aircraft carrier conducts blue water training, it will also be escorted by destroyers and frigates, practicing antisubmarine, air defense and anti-ship strikes.
The article on National Interest said: “Stealthy and heavily-armed, subs are by far the most powerful naval vessels in the world for full-scale warfare—and arguably the best way to sink those more obvious icons of naval power, aircraft carriers.” “In 2012 Liaoning was finally ready to set sail from the Dalian shipyard. As Beijing’s only carrier facing a fleet of 10 American flattops, Liaoning was widely expected to stage from China’s most modern naval base on Hainan Island in the south, near Taiwan and Vietnam. Instead Beijing announced the 70,000-ton carrier would be heading north to Qingdao. The apparent reason was that the area around Qingdao was already home to a squadron of Song-class submarines plus Type 091 nuclear subs. Those vessels are the best defense China possesses against the American and Japanese subs that will undoubtedly hound Liaoning every time she leaves port, practicing to sink the carrier in the event of war.”
According to Cao, currently, the main task of Liaoning is training and conducting scientific experiments. Although it has been through a long term voyage, it has never sailed out of the island chain. If Liaoning trains in open seas, it will strengthen its defensive force and further guarantee its safety.