The Rise of the Submarine Threat in the Chinese Theater of Operations: Capabilities and Implications
Abstract
The People's Republic of China (PRC) is growing at an alarming rate into a regional, possibly even global superpower in the Far East. At the center of this buildup is an increasingly capable Submarine force that is being cultivated and poised for a future showdown with United States naval forces. In a volatile region ripe with natural resources, sea lanes, products and alliances, this force may soon be capable of denying U.S. Navy surface units access to the South China Sea and the waters surrounding Taiwan. Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) is a key tenet of U.S. access to this region. At present, American ASW capabilities are significantly degraded after a shift in priorities over the past decade. At present, the U.S. Navy would be hard pressed to counter the asymmetric PRC submarine threat in this area. This problem will only worsen with time. The United States can recover from this problem if ASW is provided the necessary focus regarding training and the upgrading of current ASW platforms. This problem is not just a Navy problem, as sea denial will impact the Joint arena in the event that operations in the Area of Responsibility (AOR) are required.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA463753
Entities
People
- Matthew J. Smith
Organizations
- Naval War College