Submarine boom in East Asia as China modernizes navy

A submarine arms race has recently been triggered by China's naval modernization program, according to Michael Raska, a researcher from the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, in his article written for the Tokyo-based Diplomat on July 14.

"Notwithstanding weaknesses and limitations in capabilities integration, China's PLA Navy (PLAN) is gradually transforming into a regional [blue water] defensive–and offensive–type navy with extended so-called anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities," Raska wrote.

The primary mission of this strategy is to deny the freedom of action of the United States and its allies in China's near seas in the event of a conflict in East Asia.

Read more