China has secretly built a major underground nuclear submarine base that could threaten Asian countries and challenge American power in the region, it can be disclosed.
Satellite imagery, passed to The Daily Telegraph, shows that a substantial harbour has been built which could house a score of nuclear ballistic missile submarines and a host of aircraft carriers.
In what will be a significant challenge to US Navy dominance and to countries ringing the South China Sea, one photograph shows China’s latest 094 nuclear submarine at the base just a few hundred miles from its neighbours.
Other images show numerous warships moored to long jettys and a network of underground tunnels at the Sanya base on the southern tip of Hainan island.
On one hand, I would be building a blue water navy if I were the Chinese. They are so reliant on trade and oil imports that ensuring the free flow of ships, particularly at crucial points like the Strait of Malacca is a national interest. On the other hand, this capability also threatens Taiwan and American naval hegemony.
However, it must be noted that the Chinese have a really, really long way to go before they could seriously threaten the US Navy. No existing navy in the world is a match for even one US carrier battle group. Yet, the Chinese sub that popped up next to the Kitty Hawk is disturbing. I am sure the navy did a post-morem and any problems have been resolved. Nevertheless, China needs to make their strategic intentions clear.
The US Navy needs to loot at investing in a new SOSUS system in the Pacific, and get F-35s on carriers.
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