China's naval strategy increasingly hinges on its submarine capabilities, which are perceived as vulnerable due to the extensive U.S. undersea sensor network. Chinese military experts advocate for a proactive approach to neutralize this threat, suggesting that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) should systematically target American underwater surveillance systems during conflicts. This includes employing various countermeasures such as undersea drones and leveraging commercial fishing vessels to disrupt or spoof U.S. sensors. The vulnerabilities of the U.S. undersea surveillance system, particularly in the vast Western Pacific, present an opportunity for China to degrade its functionality, thereby enhancing the operational effectiveness of its submarines.
The implications of these discussions are significant, as they reveal a strategic shift in how China perceives its undersea warfare capabilities in relation to U.S. anti-submarine warfare (ASW) efforts. By prioritizing the development of technologies to locate and neutralize U.S. undersea sensors, China aims to enhance its deterrent and warfighting potential. Experts suggest that while the PLAN's ambitions may be ambitious, the realities of operational constraints and the complexity of disrupting the U.S. ASW network could pose challenges. Nonetheless, the acknowledgment of these vulnerabilities by Chinese military officers indicates a serious consideration of strategies that could reshape the undersea balance of power, necessitating a reevaluation of U.S. naval strategies in response to these evolving threats.
