Güney Çin Denizi’nde ABD-Çin Rekabetinin Hava Gücü ve Stratejisi

Öz

Politik, stratejik ve ekonomik bakımdan önemli bir konumda olan Güney Çin Denizi (GÇD), Amerika Birleşik Devletleri (ABD) ile Çin Halk Cumhuriyeti (Çin) arasında yaşanan küresel rekabetin askerî yansımalarının en fazla görüldüğü bölge olarak ön plana çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, ABD-Çin rekabetinin hava gücü ve stratejileri bakımından GÇD merkezli olarak incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden doküman incelemesi kullanılan çalışmada elde edilen bulgular; Çin’in “Stratejik Hava Kuvvetleri” yapılanması çerçevesinde ve teknolojik yatırımlarla modern bir hava gücüne dönüştüğünü ve yapay adaların silahlandırılması ile birlikte anakarasından itibaren GÇD üzerinde bir erişimi engelleme/bölgeden men etme (Anti-Access/Area Denial - A2/AD) mimarisi kurduğunu, buna karşılık ABD’nin “Çevik Muharip Konuşlanma” (Agile Combat Employment - ACE) konsepti ile bölgede dağıtık ve esnek bir hava gücü oluşturduğunu, müttefikleriyle bu alanda iş birliği geliştirdiğini ve Çin’i baskılamaya ve çevrelemeye çalıştığını ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuç olarak, bölgedeki hava gücüne dayalı stratejilerin karşılıklı caydırıcılık sağlayarak taraflar arasındaki küresel rekabeti şekillendirebilen belirleyici bir unsur olduğu görülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Güney Çin Denizi
• A2/AD
• Çevik Muharip Konuşlanma
• Hava gücü
• Hava stratejisi

Air Power and Strategy in the U.S.-China Rivalry over the South China Sea

Öz

The South China Sea (SCS), which holds political, strategic, and economic significance, stands out as the region where the military dimensions of the global rivalry between the United States (US) and the People’s Republic of China (China) are most visibly manifested. This study aims to examine the US–China rivalry in the SCS with a focus on air power and related strategies. Employing the qualitative research method of document analysis, the findings indicate that China, within the framework of its “Strategic Air Force” structure and through technological investments, has transformed into a modern air power and, with the militarization of artificial islands, has established an Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) architecture extending from its mainland over the SCS. In contrast, the US, through its “Agile Combat Employment” (ACE) concept, has developed a distributed and flexible air power in the region, enhances cooperation with its allies in this field, and seeks to pressure and contain China. In conclusion, air power–based strategies in the region emerge as a decisive factor that can shape the global rivalry between the parties by ensuring mutual deterrence.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• South China Sea
• A2/AD
• Agile Combat Employment
• Air power
• Air strategy

Kaynakça

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