China to show new warships as Beijing flexes military muscle on navy anniversary

China will show off new warships including nuclear submarines and destroyers at a parade next week marking 70 years since its navy’s founding, a senior commander said on Saturday, as Beijing flexes its increasingly well-equipped military muscle.

President Xi Jinping is regulating a general intend to renovate the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) by creating everything from stealth jets to aircraft carriers as China increase its essence in the South China Sea and around self-ruled Taiwan.

The naval force has been a key recipient of the modernization plan as China hopes to extend control a long way from the nation’s shores and secure its trading routes and citizens overseas.

A month ago, Beijing divulged an target of 7.5 percent rise in safeguard going through during the current year, a slower rate than a year ago yet at the same time outpacing China’s financial growth target.

Representative maritime leader Qiu Yanpeng told columnists in the eastern city of Qingdao that Tuesday’s naval parade- liable to be supervised by Xi himself, however China has not affirmed that — will include 32 vessels and 39 faircraft.

“The PLA Navy ship and aircraft to be revealed are the Liaoning aircraft carrier, new types of nuclear submarines, new types of destroyers, as well as fighter aircraft,” Qiu said, without giving details. “Some ships will be revealed for the first time.”

The Liaoning, the nation’s first carrier, was purchased second-hand from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted in China. It’s not clear whether China’s second carrier, a so far anonymous ship created and assembled absolutely in China, will likewise participate, yet in the previous couple of days state media has run stories praising recent sea trials.

Around a dozen foreign navies are additionally partaking. While Qiu did not give a precise number, China has reported the procession would incorporate ships from Russia, Singapore, India, Thailand and Vietnam — which as often as possible whines of Chinese military movement in the debated South China Sea.

China’s last naval battles were with the Vietnamese in the South China Sea, in 1974 and 1988, however these were moderately minor conflicts.

Chinese navy ships have likewise partaken in international anti-piracy patrols off Somalia’s coast since late 2008.

Strong navy ‘essential’

Qiu emphasized China’s incessant position that its military are not a risk to anybody and that regardless of what happens it will never “pursue hegemony”.

“It is fair to say that the PLA Navy has not brought war or turbulence to any place,” Qiu said.

In any case, China has been frightened by its past and needs ggood defenses at sea, he added.

“A strong navy is essential for building a strong maritime country,” Qiu said. “From 1840 to 1949, China was invaded by foreign powers from the sea more than 470 times, which caused untold suffering and deep wounds to the Chinese nation.”

China has oftentimes needed to rebuke worries about its military goals, particularly as military spending keeps on scaling new heights.

Beijing says it has nothing to hide, and has invited foreign media to cover next week’s naval parade and related activities, including a keynote speech by navy chief Shen Jinlong, who is close to Xi.

Zhang Junshe, a researcher at the PLA’s Naval Research Academy, told reporters after Qiu had spoken that inviting foreign navies to take part in the parade was a sign of China’s openness and self-confidence, noting China had also done this for the 60th anniversary in 2009.

“New nuclear submarines and new warships will be shown — this further goes to show that China’s navy is open and transparent,” said Zhang.