China AirField Dragon extends its paws: China now wants a strategic airfield deep in the Pacific
Beijing: China is continuing to strengthen its grip on the Pacific and perhaps its new move of upgrading a derelict airfield on a remote Pacific island in the Republic of Kiribati is a step towards that direction.
The two nations re-established ties two years ago and have embarked on new cooperation projects, including infrastructure investment as well as trade and cultural exchanges, reports Asia Times.
If the new step gets implemented then China will have an airbase in an incredibly strategic location.
If true, this could give Beijing an airbase in an incredibly strategical location, between North America and New Zealand, potentially giving China's military much greater reach throughout a critical and increasingly tense region, reports The Drive.
The existing runway at Canton Airport, once modernized, could be long enough to support fighter deployments, but the improved section would likely need to be extended out to the full 8,000 feet length to support large-size transports, as well as maritime patrol aircraft or even bombers.
A considerable investment would also need to be made to support infrastructure to sustain any kind of meaningful, longer-term deployment by military aircraft, including hangars, fueling and maintenance facilities, and accommodations for aircrew and ground personnel, the news portal reported.
The location of the airstrip would be especially useful for surveillance aircraft flights, including those by long-endurance unmanned aircraft, extending reach toward both Hawaii in one direction, and Australia and New Zealand in the other. Persistent intelligence-gathering, sea control, and long-range maritime targeting would all be of interest for the People’s Liberation Army in this region, the news portal said.
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