one wonders how long the Chinese will take to become proficient in blue water carrier ops.
Just back from China. I can assure you that in many matters we are now the in the relative stone age. And they are not hanging about in (ever fewer) areas where they are still in arrears.
If you want to see just what an insignificant little player our nation now is, hop on a flight to HK and cross over to Shenzen. You''ll be blown away.
All of which is a pretty emphatic reason to keep the IND - whether or not it really matters is irrelevant. It's all we have now that gives us any sort of voice.
Bleak I know, but I've seen the future and it ain't ours.