H17409
Headlines : InternationalChina's Not So Secret Submarine Base
While it has been known that China might be developing an underground base at Sanya, the pictures provide the first proof of the base’s existence and the rapid progress made.
Two 950 metre piers and three smaller ones would be enough to accommodate two carrier strike groups or amphibious assault ships.
[Posted By variable]Republished from Telegraph.co.uk
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.
Of even greater concern to the Pentagon are massive tunnel entrances, estimated to be 60ft high, built into hillsides around the base. Sources fear they could lead to caverns capable of hiding up to 20 nuclear submarines from spy satellites.
The US Department of Defence has estimated that China will have five 094 nuclear submarines operational by 2010 with each capable of carrying 12 JL-2 nuclear missiles.
Posted by variable
...note how the 4 and the dollar sign on the keyboard are "intertwined....":http://www.i18nguy.com/l10n/rokuyo-japanese-calendar.html .@** ..--static transmision...._--_8**over][out** half the lies they tell about me aren't even true Hua Hu Ching ...
RELATED ITEMS
- Red Storm Rising?
Posted by variable on Tuesday, March 6th 2007 - China Defends Military Rise
Posted by GWHunta on Monday, January 1st 2007 - Chinese Missile Destroys Satelite in Space -- By Toby Harnden and Alex Massie
Posted by LatinHacker on Thursday, January 18th 2007 - Cheney warns on Chinese build-up
Posted by Szamko on Friday, February 23rd 2007 - U.S. official: Chinese test missile obliterates satellite
Posted by Pac_Disciple on Friday, January 19th 2007 - Arms Race in Space
Posted by anthony on Tuesday, April 29th 2008
Vagevil
“China has secretly built a major underground nuclear submarine base that could threaten Asian countries and challenge American power in the region”
I can’t help but think this is in response to projection of said American power and foreign policy belligerence in recent years (i.e. the ring of military bases around China, pledge of allegiance to Taiwan, etc)
This a completely different mindset than US navy nuclear fleet. US ballistic subs go out to sea in broad daylight so others will know that the subs are out to sea and on station.