China's military build-up has alarmed many countries. Its latest admission that it is 'seriously considering' building the nation's first aircraft carrier will only serve to heighten such fears. Its neighbours in Asia will be particularly concerned, especially those which have maritime disputes with China. The nation has every right to modernise its navy. But it also needs to allay other countries' worries. It should, therefore, be forthright and transparent about its naval developments, as it has been about its nuclear weapons programme with the United States in the past. Such transparency will not only help to avoid misunderstanding, but also serve as a military deterrent.
Up to now, Chinese military authorities had been coy about their intention to develop an aircraft carrier. But yesterday, they gave an unmistakable answer that one will be built in the near future. The disclosure was made at a news conference in Beijing about a naval force being deployed off Somalia to protect Chinese vessels against pirates. Ministry of National Defence spokesman Huang Xueping said China would 'seriously consider' building its first aircraft carrier, as 'a symbol of national strength'. But he gave no timetable for launching the vessel, nor details about its capabilities.
China has always professed its peaceful intentions and that its military modernisation is purely for defensive purposes. Its economic miracle has taken place in the relatively peaceful environment of Southeast Asia in the past two decades. It is very much in its own interests not to disrupt the strategic balance in the region. However, China has legitimate security concerns that are being addressed by its military development programmes. Its ability to project naval power will be dramatically enhanced with an aircraft carrier and the battleship group that usually goes with one. But China's military build-up will inevitably affect the regional or even the global balance of power. An arms race is the last thing Asia needs now, but it can be avoided if China is perceived as a force for stability in the region. A great deal of effort must, therefore, be made to address the genuine security concerns of others. China may be amassing impressive military hardware, but it must also learn to wield the soft touch of power.
Undeniably, a country has the right to develop its military to meet its changing security needs in the 21st century. And adding an aircraft carrier is simply part of China's effort to upgrade its navy. The United States has more than 10 aircraft carriers to patrol the seas and safeguard its interests around the world. India is currently the only country in Asia with an aircraft carrier. China has a long coastline to defend and sea lanes to protect. If a carrier were available now, it would have been handily deployed to the Somali coasts as part of an international fight against pirates. Such an operation would likely be welcomed by the international community.
But there will inevitably be occasions when others disapprove of China's military deployment. In such cases, a small naval vessel or an aircraft carrier with a full battleship group will still cause opposition. The issue, then, is not so much about the hardware but how China uses it. As the nation plays an increasingly positive and influential role by engaging the world with more sophisticated diplomacy, it must learn to use its military might to further its peaceful stance and enhance international security.
