re: #39 William Barnett-Lewis

The conflict with China will be almost purely in the economic and cyberspace realms.

As for the PLA Navy, I’m reminded of the apocryphal description of the Soviet cruiser Kirov by a SSN commander: A Navy Cross waiting to happen.

I’m not sure I’d agree with either part of that description, since the Kirov-class ships have their own ASW capability and always operated with ASW vessels.

As for the Liaoning , taking her out with a sub would be no mean feat. She’s got ASW helos aboard, plus four escorts with her at all times, two of which are Type 054A ASW-optimized frigates (the other two ships are Type 051C destroyers). I’d figure you’d need three subs to be sure of success or a combined air-surface-underwater attack. A full court press could take her, but she won’t be China’s only CV for long.