China fear sees Japan rush for submarines

The Australian ^ | October 22, 2010 | Rick Wallace

[sukhoi-30mki]

China fear sees Japan rush for submarines

Rick Wallace, Tokyo correspondent

SPOOKED by China's recent territorial belligerence, Tokyo plans to increase the size of its submarine fleet by six to 22. Japanese Defence Ministry officials detailed the plans yesterday, saying their defence forces should have a greater capacity for vigilance in nearby waters, especially the East China Sea.

The recent dispute between Beijing and Tokyo was sparked by the arrest of a Chinese trawler skipper who Japan suspected of fishing illegally near the disputed Senkaku Islands last month.

The two Asian powers have been squabbling over these East China Sea islands for decades, after China tried to claim them when a substantial oil and gas reserve was found in nearby waters.

Japan's plan to expand the submarine fleet is expected to be included in the country's new defence program running from next year to 2015.

It has a huge public sector debt level, and will continue buying submarines at the rate of about one a year while delaying the decommissioning of existing subs in order to build the fleet.

Local media reported the ministry was considering eliminating some minesweepers and other vessels to save money.

Kosuke Takahashi, a Tokyo correspondent for Jane's Defence Weekly, told The Australian the bigger fleet was about providing insurance in case China developed an aircraft carrier.

It was also designed to stop (or at least keep track of) increasing incursions into Japanese waters by Chinese submarines.

The Chinese navy is also

[brooklyn dave]

Well, the Chinese have been quite aggressive—what are the Japanese supposed to do? Hope they buy the subs from us.

[sukhoi-30mki]

The Japanese have one of the best conventional submarine classes in the world. And the US hasn’t exported subs for decades.

[GonzoGOP]

Given Japan's position a fleet of AIP boats capable of excluding China's navy from Japanese waters could be built up relatively quickly. Unlike the Nuke Boats they have relatively small crews and don't require large specialized shipyards to refuel.

Super quiet and deadly they would be a real threat to a Nation like China that is completely dependent on foreign trade. And which imports the bulk of their oil. Of course the range of the AIP boats is very limited compared to the nukes, but Japan doesn't have to cross the pacific to fight their enemies.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Maybe we should give 1 or 2 fully loaded Ohio Class subs to Taiwan.

[GonzoGOP]

Maybe we should give 1 or 2 fully loaded Ohio Class subs to Taiwan.

Overkill. They don't need expensive boomers to close the straights. Just a lot of anti-ship missiles. Backed up with a few of the Gotland class diesel boats. In exercises our navy can't find the darn things. During the last exercise they took great pictures one of the Nimitz class through the periscope. We never even had a clue they were there. The Chinese, lacking a SOSUS network and with less advanced sonar processing, would have no chance at all against them.

The other problem with the Ohio class is that their main reason for existence is to attack land targets. Basically they hide until it is time to exterminate all life on a continent. In a fleet action they are a liability.

Finally, the US is no longer in a position to "Give" anything to anyone. Sell, oh heck yes. Give, not when we have trillion dollar budget and trade deficits.

[todd_hall]

http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/69-30865.aspx

The Chinese has an operational SOSUS network at this point. Operating a couple of conventional subs near the Chinese coast with no friendly air-cover is suicidal.