From DefenseNews

 

[excerpt]

 

Japan Warns of China's Growing Naval Muscle

Agence France-Presse

Published: 2 Aug 2011 10:19

 

TOKYO - Japan voiced concern Tuesday over China's growing assertiveness and widening naval reach in nearby waters and the Pacific and over what it called the "opaqueness" of Beijing's military budget.

Varyag supposedly sailed today for her first sea trials. I say 'supposedly' because I'm not quite convinced that she even has a power plant in her yet.

 

When you get down to it, the article is fairly correct. PACFLT has some time to deal with this threat. They lack numbers and probably the technology [if the size of HHQ-9 is any indication they have quite a ways to go regarding rocket technology] to face an up and ready USN battle group. ASW should be their first priority since the USN has had a number of embarrassing incidents over the last few years.

 

Later

D