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| Chinese Type 094 Jin class Submarine (File Photo) |
China's territorial disputes in the South China Sea will only grow more complex as regional countries continue to bolster their respective submarine fleets, reports the Beijing-based Sina Military Network.
Recent reports indicate that various countries in the South China Sea, including Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, have all been investing in new submarines, notwithstanding that China's submarine fleet will still be bigger than all of those countries put together.
China, which has been developing submarines since the 1950s, currently owns more than 60 subs — third in the world in terms of number — including four classes of nuclear subs and seven classes of conventional subs.
Publicly, the People's Liberation Army Navy's South Sea Fleet claims to deploy 16 conventionally-powered submarines and three nuclear submarines — three Type 094 nuclear subs, eight Type 035 subs, four Type 039 subs and four Russian-made Kilo-class diesel-electric subs. The real number could be even higher, as recent leaked photos of a Chinese naval base revealed another attack sub — possibly a Type 093 sub — next to the three Type 094 subs.
Read the full story at Want China Times