The tropical island of Hainan, often likened to China’s Hawaii for its scenic beauty, plays a pivotal role in China’s naval expansion, according to recent analysis. This island harbors secrets beneath its idyllic surface, housing advanced military facilities including surface-to-air missile sites and expansive naval bases at Yulin and Longpo. These bases are undergoing significant upgrades to accommodate a larger fleet, including nuclear submarines, showcasing China’s intent to bolster its naval capabilities and challenge U.S. supremacy at sea. Satellite imagery and defense analyses reveal the strategic developments on Hainan Island, underscoring China’s preparations for greater military reach into the South China Sea and possibly, future conflict scenarios.
- Hainan Island is undergoing significant military expansions, including the development of major naval facilities at Yulin and Longpo.
- These expansions aim to accommodate China’s growing fleet of vessels, including nuclear submarines, enhancing its strategic naval capabilities.
- China’s naval enhancement on the island includes infrastructure capable of supporting its seaborne nuclear deterrent, with satellite images revealing additional piers and a large facility to service nuclear submarines.
- The Pentagon believes at least one nuclear-armed submarine patrols the South China Sea constantly, potentially armed with China’s latest JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile.
- China pledges to keep its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security and has committed not to use nuclear weapons first.
- Infrastructure upgrades include a dry dock approximately 1500 feet long, capable of accommodating China’s aircraft carriers, among other vessels.
- China has overtaken the U.S. as the world’s largest navy in terms of the number of vessels, with plans to further increase its fleet size by 2030.
- The island also serves as a testing ground for new technology, including underwater drones, as part of China’s goal to modernize its military forces.
- Beyond domestic expansion, China is establishing a new naval outpost in Southeast Asia, with significant upgrades observed at the Ream Naval Base in Cambodia.
- The U.S. State Department has expressed serious concerns over China’s military expansions and their implications for regional security and the ongoing tension over Taiwan.
The Wall Street Journal is an American business and economic-focused international daily newspaper based in New York City. The Journal is published six days a week by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corp.
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