Satellite images showed that China is expanding one of its biggest shipyards which prove that President Xi Jinping is serious in funding the country's military modernization. The image was analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) based in Washington.
According to the CSIS, the Jiangnan Shipyard located in Shanghai along the Yangtze River increased by 64% since the start of its operation in 2008. Matthew Funaiole, a fellow at the CSIS's China Power Project, said that Jingnan is responsible for some of China's most advanced warships and the assets produced in the shipyard form an important part of the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) modernization.
The military modernization of China is one of the priority projects of President Xi. It includes the rapid increase in the expansion and update of China's navy. According to the U.S. government's report, China built 32 ships in 2016 and 2017.
President Xi noted, while on board the destroyer Changsha in April, the importance of the rapid building of a strong navy for Chin. He also assured that he will turn the PLAN into a "world-class force". The Newest and most advanced vessels built by the PLAN were captured by the satellite. The images showed Type 055 guided-missile destroyers, the largest, most advanced, and most lethal combat ship in Asia, being built.
China's rapid increase in military and vessel productions is comparable to the United States. The U.S. vessels are known to have an advantage over China in quality. However, it is currently facing a steady stream of bad news. Recently, there are reports that of two deadly at-sea collisions in the Asia-Pacific which damaged the navy's reputation.
Funaiole said that the ships being commissioned by China are increasing of modern design. He also said that China's navy is now larger than the active fleet of the U.S. Navy. He added that the gap between the two nations navy may continue to widen in the coming years.
The shipyard is originally located in central Shanghai during its first operation in 1865. It was relocated in its current location outside the city in 2005. The CSIS said that the shipyards measurement in 2011 is 7 square kilometers and it is now 11.5 kilometers this 2018. Most of the changes in the shipyard are in its military sections. The CSIS reported that two additional production areas were built and they are also planning to construct a new fabrication facility and a wet basin.
