US Military Maintains Constant Surveillance of Chinese Submarines in the South China Sea, Expands Operational Area

Photo by AFP

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Amid escalating tensions between the US and China over sovereignty in the South China Sea, claims have emerged that the US military conducted surveillance activities on Chinese submarines in the South China Sea for at least 161 days during the first half of this year.

On the 15th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported this, citing a report from the South China Sea Strategic Posture Initiative (SCSPI), a Beijing University think tank.

The surveillance activities took place around the Paracel Islands and the McClure Bank, and were conducted for at least 161 days out of 181 days in the first half of this year.

The surveillance operations utilized five maritime surveillance vessels stationed in Japan. Each of these vessels conducted operations continuously for periods ranging from 10 to 40 days at a time without interruption.

The report stated that the main objectives of the US military operations were to monitor China’s underwater capabilities, analyze the operational range, entry, and exit routes of submarines in key maritime areas, and provide intelligence support for anti-submarine warfare operations.

The Paracel Islands, located about 400 km from Vietnam, are claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan, and China. The underwater coral reef area known as the McClure Bank is claimed by the Philippines and China.

The report noted that US military vessels expanded their operational area to the western waters of the Paracel Islands, where they had rarely entered before, conducting surveillance activities. This was interpreted as a sign that military activities between the US and China are intensifying beneath the surface.

It added that although the official scale has not been announced, China is known to possess the world’s largest submarine fleet. The US military expects China to have 65 to 70 submarines within the next decade.

According to a US Department of Defense report last year, China currently has 4 ballistic missile submarines, 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 46 diesel attack submarines.

The US-China conflict over the South China Sea is worsening. Earlier, to mark the 5th anniversary of the South China Sea ruling, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement saying that "China threatens freedom of navigation," which was immediately met with strong dissatisfaction from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the statement, saying, "(Regarding Secretary Blinken’s statement) deliberately bringing up territorial sovereignty and maritime disputes in the South China Sea to sow discord among regional countries and undermine regional peace and stability is extremely irresponsible."