Over
the past years the Chinese Navy (PLAN) underwent a major change. As the Chinese
economy rose, so did China’s standing in the world. In order to project China’s
new power across the region the PLAN made a transition from a coastal defence
force into a powerful navy. At the moment the PLAN is a green water navy centred
around diesel-electric submarines, corvettes and frigates. The primary goal of
the PLAN is to gain naval superiority within the First Island Chain, a line
running from Japan over Taiwan and the Philippines towards Singapore.
As
China keeps becoming a more important player on the global stage it finds the
need to project its power and influence beyond the First Island Chain. In order
to accomplish that China needs a blue water navy with a true global reach. The
PLAN already made the first steps in this new transition. Aircraft carriers, a
new cruiser design and destroyers are a part of the blue water navy that China
needs. Now the PLAN made improvements in a field it ignored for a long time,
its Type 093 Shang class nuclear attack submarines (SSN).
The
SSNs that the PLAN operates are old and outdated. They are reported to be loud
and noisy and are thus easy detected by other modern navies. The Type 093 Shang
class is reported to have similar capabilities as Soviet Victor III class
submarines. Still, these submarines are the only tools the PLAN can employ at
the moment to project power on a global scale. Although China plans to build
new modern nuclear attack submarines these projects are still far away from
completion. The PLAN thus upgraded its existing Type 093 SSNs to increase its
combat capabilities.
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| Type 093 Shang class submarine before modernisation |
The
upgrades done to the Type 093 SSNs focused on the instalment of a vertical
launch systems as well as the capability to fire the YJ-18 anti-ship cruise
missiles. The instalment of a vertical launch system on board of the Type 093 gives
the PLAN the same capabilities as US Navy Los Angeles class submarines. In
general, the new Type 093 SSNs are now comparable to the Los Angeles class
submarines of the 1980s.
Aside
from being an anti-ship missile, the YJ-18 is also capable of attacking land
targets, making it an equivalent to the US Tomahawk missile.
The
implications of these new submarines are important to notice. The PLAN now has
a platform capable to station weapons everywhere around the globe. Given the
fact that China is an assertive player on the world scale it is very likely
that it will deploy these Type 093 on patrols in the areas it deemed vital to
project force. China’s main areas of interests are the East and South China
Seas but its green water navy assets are more than capable to project power in
these areas. Beyond this area China needs to be able to project power further
in the Pacific Ocean to confront the US Navy.
A
second area where these new submarines will be deployed is the Indian Ocean. PLAN
nuclear submarines already patrolled this area last year. China has several
economic projects in Africa and relies on oil from the Middle East to support
its economy. China has made trade agreements with several nations that are not
liked by Western nations. This made sense as these countries had resources but
were unable to trade them on western markets, an opening that China was happy
to exploit.
China
will at some point in time find the need to deploy military power in order to
safeguard its economic projects. The new Type 093 SSNs will be in the
forefront, capable and ready to intervene when the need arises, similar to how US
Navy Los Angeles SSN supported US interventions in the past
China doesn't aspire to be a world power like the US. It is focused on regional issues with Taiwan ,the top priority. The Chinese don't want to put all their nw in one basket. Hence the need to diversify.
ReplyDeleteChina's nw are dwarfed by US nw. However since 1945,nonw has been used. The use of a single nw will be traumatic.In 1962,the military could not give Kennedy a 100% guarantee if they had destroyed all the SU nm in Cuba.
As for China shd the US with its anti missile thinks it can neutralize China's limited no of nw,it wont be able to destroy 100% all the PLA nw.All the Chinese have to do is build more subs or nw.
The best course of action is not to use nw.This wont appeal to the US since it's a superpower and deems it right to use nw and other nations not to retaliate.This is wishful thinking and will bring untold sorrow to the US public.
The US since 1945 has been the greatest security threat to China.Its nuclear forces are poised to strike in 15 min or under.It has used nuclear blackmail on China in the past but since China has nw,the US has not used the nuclear card. It knows that though China can be pulverized .the Chinese can deliver a handful of nm which can cause significant damage.
ReplyDeleteChina must have more subs which can deliver at least afew hundred nm. This allied to the icbm,shd constitute a credible deterrent.That is in case the US intoxicated with its military might will seek to castrate China of its nm.
The US thinks its hunter subs can render obsolete China's sub .Every action will trigger areaction.In fact the US is overarmed and has an overkill in nm.
Like it or not ,China will continue to improve its military so that it can stand up not challenge the US.Even this is athreat. The problem is a threat begets a threat.So don't be surprised the US provokes an incident with China in SEA after Xi has met with Obama.It may or may not happen.
The days when China must defer to the US every time is going to be history.