A Chinese nuclear-powered submarine surfaced in the Taiwan Strait on Monday, a US defence analyst said, citing satellite imagery – a rare move that could be a message for Washington.
US Naval Institute columnist H.I. Sutton posted the image – taken by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite around 10am – which he said showed a ballistic missile submarine in the waterway, accompanied by another vessel.
“Although Sentinel-2 is low resolution, the wake patterns are characteristic of a submarine with typical rounded bow. The length best fits the Type 094 and the context aligns,” Sutton wrote on his personal website Covert Shores.
He said the submarine was heading north from the People’s Liberation Army base in Yulin, on the southern coast of Hainan in the South China Sea. He said it was likely a routine transit, noting that Chinese submarines returned north to a shipyard on the Bohai Sea for “repairs and overhaul”.
Military experts said it was unusual for a ballistic missile submarine to surface, especially an advanced PLA Navy vessel like the Type 094. The Jin-class submarines carry JL-2 ballistic missiles with a range of about 7,000km (4,350 miles) – meaning they could hit the northeast of the United States. The latest version of that submarine, the Type 094A, went into service in April and reportedly carries the more powerful JL-3 ballistic missiles with a range of over 10,000km.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has not renounced the use of force to bring the self-ruled island under its control. Tensions have been escalating across the Taiwan Strait as Beijing steps up a campaign of military intimidation, as well as diplomatic pressure on Taipei. The US has meanwhile been developing closer ties with the democratic island.
The Type 094 (simplified Chinese: 09-IV型核潜艇; traditional Chinese: 09-IV型核潛艇; Chinese designation: 09-IV; NATO reporting name: Jin class) is a class of ballistic missile submarine developed by China for the People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force. The Type 094 succeeds the Type 092 submarine and precedes the Type 096 submarine, which is under development.
The Type 094's design is likely based on the Type 093 nuclear attack submarine. It is armed with 12 JL-2 SLBMs, each with an estimated range of 7,400 km (4,600 mi). Each missile carries one warhead. The Type 094 and JL-2 is China's first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent.
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