P.S. Six of these vessels (two pacific, two Atlantic, one Indian ocean and one on the Mediterranean sea) would be a
pretty good diplomatic "big stick." Note : the Chinese are already drilling for oil off Cuba , Brazil andVenezuela.
Can they build a fleet of these things?
A few facts: the Chinese have completed the world'sbiggest dam (three gorges), the world's longest over-water bridge
(65 times as much steel as in the Eiffel tower), constructed a 15,000 ft. high railroad into Tibet
(all considered major engineering feats).
China is the only nation other than Russia that can launch men into outer space
(our capability ended with the last space shuttle launch this month) .
They have also shot down a surveillance satellite (one of their own) from the ground.
Plus, they "own our ass" in theinternational debt game.
China's new carrier could be twice as fast as anything we have, plus the stability
of a catamaran type hull will greatly reduce the pitching, yawing and swaying common to our present designs.