Tuesday, February 11, 2014

China’s Advancing Nuclear Capabilities Now Put Hawaii/Alaska In Range of Nuclear Subs

China’s Advancing Nuclear Capabilities Now Put Hawaii/Alaska In Range of Nuclear Subs

February 10, 2014 | Tom Olago
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As reported in the previous week’s edition of the Prophecy News Watch, China and Russia have increased their military budgets, clearly signaling their intentions to increase their military capabilities, both for self defense and to facilitate the potential need for future aggression.

Evidence is increasingly coming to light of the seriousness of China’s commitment to “walking the walk” – they are now set to deploy submarines sometime this year armed with nuclear tipped missiles capable of striking Alaska or Hawaii.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Jin-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine is set to begin patrols in 2014 — armed with PLAN’s new Ju Lang 2 (JL2). This is according to a submission from Senior Intelligence Officer Jesse Karotkin from ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence), to the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission in late January.

“With a range in excess of 4000 [nautical miles], the JL-2 submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM), will enable the JIN to strike Hawaii, Alaska and possibly western portions of CONUS from East Asian waters,” Karotkin said in written testimony to the commission.

The Jin, or Type 94, submarines -11,000 tons fully submerged - represent a developmental leap and will be PLAN’s first bid to create a credible sea-based nuclear deterrent to operate with China’s land based nuclear ballistic missiles.

Eric Wertheim, author of Naval Institute’s Guide to Combat Fleets of the World told USNI News on Tuesday that “If China plans for five or six of the Jin-class submarines, it’s likely to mimic the nuclear deterrent ability of smaller Western nations like the U.K. and France….they want to get more on par with Western countries.” Eric’s statement corroborates the previous week’s edition of the Prophecy News Watch (China's Military Budget To Surpass Combined Budgets Of Britain, France And Germany).

Besides this plan, China is also upgrading its overall naval fleet to ensure competitive and qualitative technology is deployed, as well as ensuring that the quantity of its naval vessels is maintained. PLAN is rapidly retiring legacy combatants in favor of larger, multi-mission ships, equipped with advanced anti-ship, anti-air, and anti-submarine weapons and sensors.

Why exactly would China be so persistent in its efforts towards military competitiveness and supremacy? Other than for the obvious need for proactive self-defence, China’s military expansion ambitions seem to be focused on at least on the following goals:

1. To capitalize on waning American leadership and influence globally (an intention also shared by Russia) by seeking to at least match America’s military strengths.

2. To allow China to significantly expand its “counter intervention” capability further into the Philippine Sea and South China Sea over the next decade. Significantly, many of these capabilities are designed specifically to deter or prevent U.S. military intervention in the region. An Associated Press news clip quotes the chief of U.S. intelligence, James Clapper, as stating that “China’s aggressive pursuit of territorial claims in the seas of East Asia is driven by a sense of historical destiny and is causing great concern among countries in the region”.

Clapper further asserts that China has been greatly concerned by the U.S. “pivot” to Asia — the Obama administration’s attempt to boost America’s military, diplomatic and economic presence there — viewing it as an attempt at containment. Beijing on its part, denies any aggressive intent. It says it’s claims have a historical basis, including over most of the resource-rich South China Sea, where it has disputes with nations including Vietnam and the Philippines.

3. To help China “…lay a “solid foundation, make progress, and to win “informationized wars”. According to a report by Jesse Karotkin, Senior Intelligence Officer (SIO) for China at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) before the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission on Jan. 30, 2014: “Beijing characterizes its military modernization effort as a “three-step development strategy” that entails laying a “solid foundation” by 2010, making “major progress” by 2020, and being able to win “informationized wars by the mid-21st century.”

It is worthy of note that PLAN boasts of having already have achieved a “strong foundation” that comprised the first stage of their plan, and are emerging as a well equipped, competent, and more professional force.

These developments have exposed deepening concern in Washington over China’s assertive behavior and military modernization that challenges decades of American pre-eminence in the Asia-Pacific. It is felt that potential outcomes could include the U.S. being potentially be drawn into a conflict, should one break out between China and U.S. treaty allies such as Japan and the Philippines.

Asked if China could threaten U.S. satellite systems, which have widespread military and civilian applications, Clapper responded that there were countries pursuing very aggressive and impressive “counter-space” capabilities, and the U.S. is taking “appropriate actions” to deal with those potential threats. Details of those actions are bound to remain classified U.S/NATO secrets, but would undoubtedly include strategies to mitigate the risks faced by U.S states and allies within the range of China’s nuclear submarine and space warfare striking capabilities.

Clapper predicted that over time China will try to project its power globally. It will be interesting to watch how the “Rise of the East” will counter U.S and NATO efforts to subdue it.

Read more at http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/2014/February10/101.html#uVveQOGmYzpliGxf.99

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