The unexpected encounter between China's Shandong aircraft carrier strike group and the US aircraft carrier strike group was not only a direct contest of military strength, but also a subtle change in the international political pattern.
However, behind this encounter, there is a shocking reversal of power and strategic games. Who has the upper hand in this South China Sea storm?
What kind of balance of power makes this encounter full of suspense and uncertainty?
To unravel the mystery of this situation in the South China Sea, we have to start with the trip of the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group to the South China Sea.
According to high-definition images taken by U.S. commercial satellites in early July, the PLA Navy's Shandong aircraft carrier battle group is conducting navigation training in the South China Sea.
The training was not only large-scale, but also luxurious, including the Shandong ship and the 075 amphibious assault ship "Hainan" deployed in the South China Sea for a long time, as well as the escort 0.55 million ton large drive, 052D large drive and 054A frigate.
The size of such a fleet has far exceeded that of the US Navy's aircraft carrier strike group.
At the same time, we turn our attention to the U.S. carrier strike group.
The USS Roosevelt, which was originally conducting exercises in the Yellow Sea, had to rush south to the South China Sea because of the tense situation in the Middle East, and then crossed the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Strait of Gibraltar to reach the Mediterranean.
However, the deployment was rather hasty and embarrassing. The Roosevelt, which was supposed to be escorted by 3 destroyers, was forced to make a trip to the South China Sea only by the USS Roosevelt and 2 other escort destroyers because one escort destroyer was urgently heading to the Middle East.
Such a fleet strength is obviously at a disadvantage compared with the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group.
When the two fleets met in the South China Sea, the reversal of the balance of power was already apparent. The PLA fleet has a clear advantage in tonnage and the number of ships, while the US aircraft carrier strike group is inadequate.
This encounter is not only a contest of military strength, but also a subtle change in the international political landscape.
It has allowed the world to see the rise and growth of China's navy, and it has also challenged the hegemony of the US Navy in the Asia-Pacific region like never before.
So, what kind of strategic game and reversal of strength are hidden behind this South China Sea storm?
First of all, we need to see the rapid development and strength growth of the Chinese Navy.
In recent years, the Chinese Navy has continuously invested heavily in modernization, introducing and developing a series of advanced ships and weapons and equipment.
The luxurious lineup of the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group is a microcosm of the growth of China's naval strength.
In contrast, the U.S. Navy faces a series of problems such as aging ships, insufficient maintenance, and tight budgets. This has seriously challenged the US Navy's military presence and influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Second, what we need to see is the strategic game between China and the United States in the South China Sea. The South China Sea region is rich in resources and strategically important, and is a focal point for both China and the United States.
However, with the rise and power of the Chinese Navy, the U.S. Navy's supremacy in the South China Sea has been seriously challenged.
The encounter between the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group and the US aircraft carrier strike group is a direct contest between China and the United States in the strategic game in the South China Sea.
In this contest, it is not difficult to find a reversal of the balance of strength. The U.S. Navy, which originally had strong military strength and hegemony, was powerless in the face of the rise of the Chinese Navy.
This is not only due to the superiority of the Chinese Navy in the number of ships and tonnage, but also because the Chinese Navy has made a major breakthrough in anti-ship strike capabilities and air defense capabilities.
Taking the 055 drive as an example, this 10,000-ton drive not only has strong air defense capabilities, but also carries the YJ-21 hypersonic missile.
This missile is the absolute nemesis of the US aircraft carriers, and it can completely break through the air defense network of the US escort destroyers and ensure the sinking of the US aircraft carriers.
In contrast, although the US aircraft carriers have a numerical superiority in carrier-based aircraft, they are vastly different from the Chinese Navy in terms of anti-ship strike capabilities and air defense capabilities. This puts US aircraft carriers at a disadvantage in the contest with the Chinese Navy.
In addition to the reversal of the balance of power, the South China Sea incident has also revealed subtle changes in the military strategy and political landscape between China and the United States.
With the rise and power of the Chinese Navy, the U.S. Navy's military presence and influence in the Asia-Pacific region have been seriously challenged. This has forced the United States to re-examine its military strategy and political landscape in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the same time, China has further strengthened its control over the South China Sea and its international standing by demonstrating its military strength and strategic resolve.
Looking back at the beginning and end of this South China Sea storm, it is not difficult for us to find the profound significance and strategic value contained in it.
It is not only a contest of military strength, but also a subtle change in the international political pattern.
It has allowed the world to see the rise and growth of China's navy, and it has also challenged the hegemony of the US Navy in the Asia-Pacific region like never before.
Looking ahead, as China's navy continues to grow in strength, the strategic game between China and the United States in the South China Sea will become more intense and complex.
However, no matter what changes lie ahead, we should always bear in mind the lessons and lessons that this incident in the South China Sea has brought us: the reversal of the balance of power will not be achieved overnight, but will require long-term accumulation and continuous efforts.
Only with strong military strength and strategic determination can we remain invincible in the international political landscape.