China surpasses US in submarine numbers: US Navy admiral

Asia-Pacific, News, US February 26, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

According to the top US Navy admiral, The Chinese Navy now has more diesel- and nuclear-powered submarines than the United States, although their quality is still inferior.

China is building some “fairly amazing submarines” and the size of its undersea fleet has surpassed that of the US fleet, Vice Admiral Joseph Mulloy, deputy chief of naval operations for capabilities and resources, told American lawmakers on Wednesday.

“They may not be the same quality, but their submarine forces are growing at a tremendous rate. They now have more diesel and nuclear attack submarines than we have,” the admiral told the lawmakers.“They are producing some fairly amazing submarines and they are actually deploying them.”

The Chinese naval missions included at least three deployments into the Indian Ocean, Mulloy told the committee. They can also send strategic ballistic missile submarines on missions lasting for 95 days.

“We don’t think they have nuclear weapons on board, but we’ve seen them producing the missiles and testing them,” the admiral said. “We know they are out experimenting and looking at operating and clearly want to be in this world of advanced submarines.”

The US Navy reported having 71 commissioned submarines. The Chinese, according to Pentagon estimates voiced last year, has 77 principal surface combatant ships, more than 60 submarines, 55 large and medium amphibious ships, and about 85 missile-equipped small combatants.

US military officials have grown increasingly concerned in recent months about China’s military development. The Pentagon has begun a major push to maintain US military technology dominance amid rapid advances by China and Russia.

This is while China says the United States is destabilizing the Asia-Pacific by strengthening its military alliances and sending more ships, planes, and troops to the region.

Military spending worldwide amounts to $1.75 trillion and Washington is responsible for more than one third of all military spending.