China Unveils Nuclear Submarines

China unveiled its nuclear submarines this week at an international fleet review marking the 60th anniversary of its navy, official media reported. The first known public appearance of the craft, off the northern port of Qingdao, will underscore the growing might of the People's Liberation Army navy and its attempts to build goodwill by increasing transparency.

China's nuclear submarines have gained prominence lately thanks to participation in the fleet battling pirates off the coast of Somalia - the first active mission outside the Pacific - and a confrontation with the U.S. in the South China Sea last month. The Chinese navy's commander, Admiral Wu Shengli, said the celebrations, which would include 21 ships from 14 foreign countries, would show his country as a force for "peace, harmony and co-operation" at sea, the Liberation Army Daily reported.

"Suspicions about China being a 'threat' to world security are mostly because of misunderstandings and lack of understandings about China," Wu's deputy, Vice-Admiral Ding Yiping, told the state news agency Xinhua. "The suspicions would disappear if foreign counterparts could visit the Chinese navy and know about the true situation." He added: "It is not a secret that China has nuclear submarines, which are key to safeguarding our country's national security." Chinese media have speculated that the government will also use the celebrations to announce more details of its plan to build an aircraft carrier, which is seen by many as emblematic of its ambitions.

The United States and governments in the region are concerned about China's growing naval power, sea boundary disputes and rivalry for resources. "The fleet review and Somalia are being used by China to try to show that even as it projects its power it is not a threat to anyone," said Christian Le Miere, senior analyst for Asia at defense publication Jane's Country Risk. He said the PLA had sought to portray itself as transparent and a responsible partner, rebuilding military-to-military links with the U.S., added that the U.S. and Japan would be watching warily. "The incident in the South China Sea was a very clear indication of the fears of both sides ... China is increasingly concerned by U.S. monitoring of its activities and the U.S. is increasingly concerned that the Chinese are developing longer-range blue-water capabilities," he said.

Last month the U.S. accused Chinese boats, including a naval vessel, of harassing the USNS Impeccable in international waters, while China said the surveillance ship should not have been operating in its "exclusive economic zone". The stand-off took place 75 miles south of a major naval base. The PLA navy has more than 225,000 personnel and is thought to have as many as 70 submarines, 10 of them nuclear-powered. It also has about 72 combat ships. But it is continuing to invest heavily in expanding and upgrading its fleet, with much of the PLA's hefty budget increases in recent years going to the navy. Under the somewhat opaque 'Project 48' we are likely to see an aircraft carrier as well," Le Miere added.

Source: Ecoterra Intl, April 26, 2009

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