Posted on 04/19/2008 8:24:18 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Imagery confirms underground nuclear sub base in China
Imagery confirms underground nuclear sub base in China
Richard D Fisher Jr Analyst - Virginia
Key Points
Exclusive access to Digital Globe satellite imagery has allowed Jane's to document China's nuclear naval build-up on Hainan Island
The Sanya base may be used to house the new Type 094 nuclear submarine
High-resolution satellite imagery from Digital Globe has enabled Jane's to confirm the construction of a major underground nuclear submarine base at Sanya, on Hainan Island off the southern coast of China.
Although Asian military sources first suggested the existence of the base to Jane's in 2002, the satellite imagery has allowed independent verification for the first time.
The extent of construction indicates that Sanya could become a key base for People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carriers and other power-projection ships. In December 2007, perhaps in concert with a major People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) exercise the previous month, the PLA moved its first Type 094 second-generation nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) to Sanya.
Satellite imagery in 2005 showed new construction in the Sanya area of Hainan, confirming information from Jane's sources but revealing few useful details. However, the most recent Digital Globe imagery of the Sanya area shows that it is well on its way to becoming a major naval base.
Since 2005 the PLA has constructed two sets of piers that could accommodate two or more aircraft carrier battlegroups. In addition the PLA has nearly completed a long concrete pier on the coast that could support the loading of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) onto SSBNs, repair operations on large ships or the embarkation of heavy equipment or troops onto aircraft carriers or amphibious transport ships. Also of significance is the expansion and ornate nature of the headquarters, barracks and military support facilities.
Sanya contains an apparently incomplete cave entrance similar to that of the underground submarine pen known to exist at Jianggezhuang - the submarine base of the North Sea Fleet. The Sanya entrance is more than 23 m in width, which could easily accommodate all PLA submarines and some support ships.
On the eastern side of this peninsula, there are 11 additional access points to underground locations. These could have served to help excavate the new submarine facility, or they could also serve as storage areas for nuclear missiles or other weapons and equipment that need to be kept away from the vessels.
Beyond the strategic implications of securing the South China Sea, Sanya has topographical benefits. While nuclear ballistic missile submarine construction takes place near the North Sea Fleet base of Huludao, the nearby Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf are too shallow, with depths of approximately 150 ft, creating unacceptable vulnerabilities for SSBN operations. South of Hainan Island, PLAN SSBNs would soon find depths exceeding 5,000 m, which could support submarine patrols.
Richard D. Fisher, Jr is a senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
I have to disagree on that! The high density of the Chinese population means that under MAD, China not only loses more than half its population immediately but also most of its agricultural capacity due to fallout from a massive nuclear strike. I don’t think the Chinese government wants to lose essentially 80+ percent of its population within a few months!
I sincerely hope you’re right.
Sometimes self preservation is the only thing that limits aggression.
” And now that we know of their pens you can rest assured that we will have more fast attacks patrolling that area.”
Well, now eveyone else knows of their pens. I would think that the US military already knew about them.
Another thing that the Chinese apparently got from Clinton - they are both worried about the size of their ‘pens’...
The technology of the People's Liberation Army Navy is overwhelmingly Russian, with a good dose of French, and smidgen of Israeli, technology.
YUP. Of course they are.
1. It’s part of the globalists’ script.
2. Quite a number of Christians around the world have had dreams and visions of such . . . including:
LOOK about 4-5 inches from the bottom of the yellow backgrouned index at the above for
“CHINA AND RUSSIA STRIKE”
-The Russians were overwhelmingly paranoid but essentially rational, I don’t think the same can be said of the chinese leadership.
You are on both counts correct.
Maybe the base was built by a Polish contractor?
China’s about the same size - landmass wise - as the US. However, about 70% of their population lives within 100 miles of the Eastern coast. It’s VERY high density, much higher than the US, and a LOT more dense than the old USSR.
The remaining population is predominantly agricultural, and in Western China. Not much in the way of big industry, technology, OR government installations once you get outside the strip along the Eastern seaboard of China.
That struck me too! I’ve stayed at the Gloria Resort before, just North of the Sheraton. Beautiful place, and you can see the entire bay really easy. I guess in addition to working on the tan and enjoying fresh pineapple, I can watch the subs go in and out like I do when back home in Seattle (watch the boomers cruise out from Keyport, WA then up Puget Sound).
Neither China or Russia care about the people, other than as a commodity. tens of Millions were deliberately starved in both countries when they went commie.
78% of U.S. Population lives near the West, North or East coasts California, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennyslvania, New Jersey, Delaware, D.C. Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and most of Texas.
Most of that 78% would be killed by twenty nuclear detonations: Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth, New Orleans, Mobile, Tampa, Atlanta, Miami, Winston-Salem, Norfolk, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit.
They don't need such agents. They need only read the New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
ping to #35 re:Taiwan VP’s recent trip to Hainan.
I understand that; now go to the Eastern US seaboard, and move those 78% of Americans to a strip 100 miles wide, ranging between New York City and Atlanta. THAT is China. It’s a LOT more dense.
The greater Shanghai area (Shanghai municipality and the closely-placed cities and towns right around it) has upwards of 40 million people alone. In once megapolis. That’s more than all of California.
China’s amazingly dense on the Eastern edge, and it’s incredibly flat, too - no mountains, or even hills to speak of that would slow down a nuclear blast, until you get down around Hong Kong. Heck, Shanghai’s mountain is Mount Dajin - at a whopping 338 feet! We’re talking KANSAS flat here..:)
Take Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Shanghai and you have about 30% of the Chinese population, in an area not much larger than California. It’s really very dense!
Exactly.
It’s important to note that the base is within 2 mile of very deep ocean. That no doubt has a huge role as it allows them to leave their berths and disappear very very quickly.
Right. And an underground base would have an underwater entrance that subs could go through, so they could enter and leave without having to surface until they are inside the base
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