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China builds mockups of US Navy ships in area used for missile target practice

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Yew Lun Tian, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A satellite picture shows a weapons test range that incorporates a number of simulated US Navy Carrier strike group vessels as targets, in the Taklamakan Desert, western China November 1, 2021. Satellite Image/Maxar Technologies/Sentinel-2/Handout via Reuters" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/11/08/20211108-taklamakan-desert-china-rtr.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>A satellite picture shows a weapons test range that incorporates a number of simulated US Navy Carrier strike group vessels as targets, in the Taklamakan Desert, western China November 1, 2021. <em>Satellite Image/Maxar Technologies/Sentinel-2/Handout via Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>BEIJING - China&#x27;s military has built mockups in the shape of a US Navy aircraft carrier and other US warships, possibly as training targets, in the desert of Xinjiang, satellite images by Maxar showed on Sunday.</p><p>These mockups reflect China&#x27;s efforts to build up anti-carrier capabilities, specifically against the US Navy, as tensions remain high with Washington over Taiwan and the South China Sea.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/10/20/21/beijing-demands-end-to-us-operations-in-south-china-sea">Beijing demands end to US operations in South China Sea</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/10/21/21/us-envoy-to-china-nominee-takes-tough-line-vs-beijing">US envoy to China nominee shares scathing sentiments vs situation in Beijing</a></li></ul><p>The satellite images showed a full-scale outline of a US carrier and at least two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers had been built at what appears to be a new target range complex in the Taklamakan Desert.</p><p>The images also showed a 6-meter-wide rail system with a ship-sized target mounted on it, which experts say could be used to simulate a moving vessel.</p><p>The complex has been used for <a href="https://news.usni.org/2021/11/07/china-builds-missile-targets-shaped-like-u-s-aircraft-carrier-destroyers-in-remote-desert">ballistic missile testing</a>, the US Naval Institute reported, quoting geospatial intelligence company All Source Analysis.</p><p>China&#x27;s anti-ship missile programs are overseen by the People&#x27;s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF). China&#x27;s defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</p><p>According to the Pentagon&#x27;s latest annual report on China&#x27;s military, the PLARF conducted its first confirmed live-fire launch into the South China Sea in July 2020, firing six DF-21 anti-ship ballistic missiles into the waters north of the Spratly Islands, where China has territorial disputes with Taiwan and four Southeast Asian countries.</p><p>The tests at sea may have shown China &quot;they are still far from creating an accurate ASBM,&quot; said Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. &quot;I don&#x27;t think the desert targets are going to be the final stage. It&#x27;s meant for further refinement.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/05/21/china-ramps-up-nuclear-arsenal-amid-us-pressure">China building up nuclear arsenal ‘in response to US pressure’</a></li></ul><p>An anti-ship ballistic missile test in the desert would not reflect the realistic conditions of a marine environment, which could affect sensors and targeting, but would allow China to carry out the tests more securely, Koh said.</p><p>&quot;The best way to test it and keep it out of the prying eyes of the US military and intelligence assets is to do it inland,&quot; he said.</p><p>Neighbouring countries, concerned about the missiles hitting other ships around the target, might also object to China&#x27;s testing at sea, he added.</p><p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in July this year that the United States will defend the Philippines if it comes under attack in the South China Sea and warned China to cease its &quot;provocative behavior&quot;.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1657551" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

China's military has built mockups in the shape of a US Navy aircraft carrier and other US warships, possibly as training targets.

China builds mockups of US Navy ships in area used for missile target practice

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China builds mockups of US Navy ships in area used for missile target practice

Yew Lun Tian,

Reuters

Published November 08, 2021 04:41 PM PHT

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Updated November 08, 2021 04:42 PM PHT

Read More:

China

US

US Navy

Xinjiang

South China Sea

Taiwan

Southeast Asia

United States

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