Why Is the U.S. Concerned about the Development of the Chinese Air Force?

Another new version of the “China threat theory” has appeared in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal recently published an editorial saying that although many observers of China's military are still focusing on China’s first aircraft carrier platform sea trial last month, the decision-makers in the U.S. military and other Asian countries must not neglect the other aspects of China’s military force — that China’s military strength has been growing continuously; that China’s air force may one day play the most important role in challenging U.S. military power in the Asia-Pacific region; and that China’s air force will control East Asia with its 1,600 strong fighter jets.

At the same time, the potential reductions in the budget of the U.S. Air Force may further downgrade its capacity to protect U.S. national interests. Independent military observers in Beijing thought that the attitude of the U.S. media, always the first to worry about the world before the world worries about itself, has in fact represented the anxiety and misunderstanding of certain politicians and military figures about the Chinese air force’s push for increasing development. However, there is no reason for such concern, which is in fact the result of a Cold War mentality. It does not fit in with the principles set up for developing the relationship between the Chinese and American militaries, nor does it go along with the recently improved atmosphere in Sino-U.S. relations. Why, then, have some people in the U.S. developed an anxiety about the development of China’s air force?

The world is at peace but the superpower is anxious by itself

Even though this article thought that the Chinese air force is still currently several years behind compared to the U.S. Air Force in areas such as fighting experience, military personnel training and drafting military action plans, it pointed out that the Chinese air force is focused on increasing such abilities and hoping to challenge the U.S. head on. It emphasized that the Chinese air force has sped up its reforms and is trying to convert itself from a force that lacks training and possesses only simple equipment into a fighting force with continuously growing power. Such dramatic changes have already been reflected on many levels and in many aspects in the Chinese air force, including its military actions, organizational structure, quality of its men, educational level, military training and weaponry equipment. And these changes will continue.

Based on these changes, the U.S. media concluded that “the Chinese air force may one day play the most important role in challenging the U.S.’s military might in the Asia-Pacific region,” but such a conclusion is weak. It is obvious that the fighting capabilities of the Chinese air force and its American counterpart are not at the same level, and the Chinese air force has neither the intention nor the ability to challenge the U.S. Air Force.

Why, then, do some in the U.S. still make irresponsible remarks about the Chinese air force’s normal development? Perhaps we can find the answers in the U.S.’s usual hegemonic reasoning and current situation: Because of the downgrading of its sovereign debt and the persisting economic downturn, the U.S. military urgently needs a reason to maintain the size of its budget. Therefore, the normal development of the Chinese air force is used as an excuse by some people or interest groups.

Grasping at straws and causing great obstruction based on strategic anxiety

In discussing its concern about the development of the Chinese air force, the editorial even made a show of being earnest and analyzed the number of Chinese fighter jets. It claimed that the Chinese air force has a total of 1,600 fighter jets, and “as Chinese pilots begin to engage in joint operations, night exercises and longer-range missions from its dozens of bases in coastal regions, the specter of a Chinese air umbrella over eastern Asia begins to look less far-fetched.” Expert analysis has deemed such a perspective untenable. Although the Chinese air force has a great quantity of fighter jets, its air defense responsibility is not compatible with that of other East Asian countries. Also, the Chinese air force’s most advanced and newest fighter jets are still not as advanced as those of the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force, and its joint training level is behind that of the South Korean air force. The Chinese air force has also not had any conflict with these two countries’ air forces; therefore, there is no such issue of the need to control East Asia.

Observers think that the Obama administration’s high profile announcement of “returning to Asia” and frequent joint military exercises with other countries around China actually reflect the U.S.’s strategic shift and mental anxiety. Therefore, by creating a so-called “Chinese air force controlling East Asia” theory, the U.S. is hoping to promote the “China threat theory,” thereby increasing the fear of China in its neighboring countries, therefore realizing the U.S.’s strategic objective: To construct a political defense against China and a military dependence on the U.S.

Relieving anxiety requires one who looks for anxiety

Observers also pointed out that China has always put “respect, mutual trust, reciprocity and mutual benefit” as its basic principles in developing the Sino-U.S. military relationship and has been willing to explore ways and means to increase mutual trust with the armed forces of the U.S. The U.S., as the country that possesses the most powerful military in the world, should be rational, objective and inclusive when looking at the development of China’s military strength and should not make unwarranted charges with ulterior motives. Otherwise, the U.S. will be looking to inflict trouble on itself and therefore do a great disservice to the development of the Sino-U.S. military relationship.