Free Republic

China is developing larger surface ships, ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) and conventional submarines, so it will be able to blockade Taiwan and deter any involvement of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in the Taiwan Strait by the end of this decade. For this purpose, the development of SSBN's has been given priority, to build up a nuclear deterrence. In 2001, after seven years of refit and modernization work, China's single SSBN of the Xia Class, Type 092G (G: Gai Lian, meaning modification) was re-commissioned. It is believed the vessel received the JL-1A ballistic missile, the effective...