In China sailors and civilians working on the former Russian aircraft carrier Varyag, report that the ship will soon be officially renamed to the Shi Lang (after the Chinese general who took possession of Taiwan in 1681, the first time China ever paid any attention to the island). The Chinese have been refurbishing the Varyag, one of two Kuznetsov class that Russia began building in the 1980s, for several years now.
It isn't going to be a carrier. But I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese turn Shi Lang into a mobile offshore base (MOB) for the purpose of supporting an invasion of Taiwan:
If China is truly interested in conquering Taiwan in the near future, might not the Varyag be useful as a staging base--a cheap MOB--that could be towed close to Taiwan? Load it with troops, SAMs, supplies, and helicopters, and tow it close to Taiwan where it will ferry troops to the beachheads? Ship in troops to the floating base using civilian vessels and then load them on military helicopters or smaller amphibious warfare vessels based on the jury-rigged MOB and get them ashore.And the first window of 2008 (May to July) for a possible invasion is getting closer.
A cheap, made-in-China MOB could be one of many items that slip past our radar as we look for conventional amphibious warfare developments. The Varyag may be in play for a large Chinese throw of the dice, but it probably won't be a floating casino that emerges from Dalian.
