卫星照片显示中国正在扩建战略航母基地

开源卫星图像显示，中国正在扩建其一个停泊航母的海军基地，意在挑战美国的海上主导地位。

《新闻周刊》已通过电子邮件联系中国国防部寻求置评。

为何重要

根据五角大楼的评估，中国按舰艇数量计算，拥有世界上最大的海军。中国拥有超过370艘舰艇和潜艇，其中包括两艘现役航空母舰。相比之下，美国拥有11艘现役航母。

在中国军方10月31日提供的这张图片中，中国海军于10月下旬首次在南海进行双航母编队演习。此次演习动用了山东舰（前左）和辽宁舰（前右）两艘航母。
© 中国军方

总部位于澳大利亚的海军分析师亚历克斯·卢克（Alex Luck）对《新闻周刊》表示，中国正在快速扩充海军力量，以扩大其军事影响力，并在过去10至15年间实施了“非常重要的建设项目”，以提升舰队相关基础设施。

他解释说：“仔细观察中国海军基础设施扩建的速度和类型、新增设施以及总泊位空间，让我们可以较为准确地评估中国打算从哪些地点部署何种海军力量。”

需要了解的情况

一位因话题敏感要求匿名的中国军事观察人士表示，位于中国东北青岛的榆池海军基地——该基地是中国首艘航母辽宁舰的母港——扩建工程已经初具规模。

根据周三拍摄的一张卫星图像，与一年前相比，该基地至少新建了四个码头。这位观察人士指出，其中包括三个宽131英尺（约40米）的窄码头，可能主要用于停泊中国的驱逐舰舰队。

剩下一个在建的码头宽328英尺（约100米），可能将用于停泊更大型舰艇，如航母和补给舰。

Satellite Photos Capture China Expanding Strategic Aircraft Carrier Base

Open-source satellite imagery appears to show that China is expanding one of its naval bases that hosts an aircraft carrier, as it seeks to challenge United States naval dominance.

Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.

Why It Matters

China has the largest navy in the world by hull count, according to a Pentagon assessment. China has a fleet of more than 370 ships and submarines, which includes two aircraft carriers in active service. The United States possesses 11 operational aircraft carriers.

In this image provided by the Chinese military on October 31, China's navy conducts dual aircraft carrier operations for the first time in South China Sea in late October. The operations involved aircraft carriers CNS Shandong, front left, and CNS Liaoning, front right. Chinese military© Chinese military

China is undergoing a rapid naval buildup to expand its military reach and presence and has conducted "very significant construction programs" of related infrastructure for its fleet over the last 10 to 15 years, Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck told Newsweek.

"A closer look at the rate and type of expansion [of Chinese naval infrastructure], added facilities and total berthing space allows us to make educated assessments as to what sort of naval forces China intends to deploy from what locations," he explained.

What To Know

According to a Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic, the expansion of Yuchi Naval Base in Qingdao in northeastern China, which is home to the country's first aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, has begun to take shape.

A satellite image captured on Wednesday shows that at least four new piers are being built when compared with a year ago. These include three narrow piers, which are 131 feet wide and will possibly be primarily used to berth the Chinese destroyer fleet, the observer said.

The remaining pier under construction, which is 328 feet wide, could be used by larger ships such as aircraft carriers and supply ships.

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