Contents: (1) Scope, Sources, and Terminology; (2) Overview of China¿s Naval Modern.; Inception; Elements of Modern. Effort; Limitations and Weaknesses; Reasons for Modern. Effort; Elements of China¿s Naval Modern.; Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles; Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles; Subs.; Aircraft Carriers; Surface Combatants; Amphibious Ships; Maritime Surveill. and Targeting Systems; Operations Away From Home Waters; Comparing U.S. and Chinese Naval Capabilities; Potential Oversight Issues for Congress; China as a Defense-Planning Priority; (3) Potential Navy-Related Program Implications; Highly Capable Ships and Aircraft; Pacific Fleet¿s Share of the Navy; Homeporting Pacific Fleet Ships in Forward Locations; Larger vs. Smaller Ships.

Nations in the Asia-Pacific region are modernizing their naval fleets, and many are choosing to use submarines as the centerpiece of these plans. China, one of the most influential nations in the region, has upgraded its submarine force, and it is important to analyze the impact this modernization effort will have on the stability of the region. India, Japan, and the United States are closely watching the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) submarine force to understand better China's intentions writ large, and the implications they have for security. All three nations have reacted in response to the PLAN's modernization goal. This study concludes that the most effective policy going forward would be a balanced combination of both hard and soft hedging (including dialogue with the PLAN) to defend allied security interests but also to provide avenues for promoting future regional stability. CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION * A. MAJOR RESEARCH QUESTION * B. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH QUESTION * C. LITERATURE REVIEW * 1. Defining a Modernized Submarine Fleet * 2. The PLAN Submarine Modernization * 3. Literature from India * 4. Literature from Japan * 5. Literature from the United States * D. RELEVANT SECURITY CONCEPTS * 1. Security Dilemma * 2. Dangers of Submarines * 3. Ways to Respond to the Submarine Threat * E. POTENTIAL EXPLANATIONS, HYPOTHESIS, AND ROADMAP * CHAPTER II - CHINESE SUBMARINE MODERNIZATION * A. BACKGROUND * B. TYPES OF SUBMARINES * 1. Conventional Submarines * a. SS Type 035, Ming-class * b. SSG Type 039/039G, Song-class * c. SSG Kilo-class (Project 877EKM/636) * d. SSG Type 039A/041 Yuan-Class * 2. Nuclear Submarines * a. SSBN Type 094, Jin-class * b. SSN Type 091, Han-class * c. SSN Type 093, Shang-class * 3. Air Independent Propulsion Submarines * 4. PLAN Submarine Growth * C. OPERATIONS * D. SUBMARINE WEAPONS PAYLOAD * 1. SLBM JL-2 Missiles * 2. SS-N-27 Sizzler * 3. Yu-5 Torpedo * E. CONCLUSIONS * CHAPTER III - INDIA'S VIEWS ON CHINESE SUBMARINE MODERNIZATION * A. SINO-INDIAN DISPUTES * 1. Border Dispute * 2. China's Relationship with Pakistan * B. INDIA'S RESPONSE TO CHINESE SUBMARINES * 1. Hard Hedging * a. Modernization of Anti-Submarine Ships * b. Anti-submarine Aircraft * c. Submarines * d. Exercises * 2. Soft Hedging * C. INDIA'S MARITIME INTERESTS * 1. Economic Security * a. Navy's Security Role * b. Strategic Location * 2. Natural Resources * D. CONCLUSION * CHAPTER IV - JAPANESE VIEWS ON CHINESE SUBMARINE MODERNIZATION * A. SINO-JAPANESE RIVALRY * 1. Misaligned Memories * 2. Disputed Islands * B. JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO CHINESE SUBMARINES * 1. Hard Hedging * 2. Soft Hedging * C. NAVAL STRATEGY IN CONFLICT * 1. Economic Development * 2. Environment of Stability, Transparency and Predictability * D. CONCLUSION * CHAPTER V - UNITED STATES' VIEWS ON CHINESE SUBMARINE MODERNIZATION * A. DIVERGENT SECURITY CONCERNS * 1. U.S. Alliances * 2. Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia * 3. EP-3 Aircraft Incident * 4. USNS Impeccable Incident * B. U.S. RESPONSE TO CHINESE SUBMARINE MODERNIZATION * 1. Threat Perceptions Seen from the United States * 2. Hard Hedging * C. CONCLUSION * CHAPTER VI - RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION * A. U.S. HARD HEDGING * B. U.S. AND JAPAN HARD HEDGING * C. INDIA HARD HEDGING * D. SOFT HEDGING * E. CONCLUSION

One of the key concerns of naval strategists and planners today is the nature of the Chinese geostrategic challenge. Conceding that no one can know for certain China s intentions in terms of future conflict, the editors of this hot-topic book argue that the trajectory of Chinese nuclear propulsion for submarines may be one of the best single indicators of China s ambitions of global military power. Nuclear submarines, with their unparalleled survivability, remain ideal platforms for persistent operations in far-flung sea areas and offer an efficient means for China to project power. This collection of essays presents the latest thinking of leading experts on the emergence of a modern nuclear submarine fleet in China. Each contribution is packed with authoritative data and cogent analysis. The book has been compiled by four professors and analysts at the U.S. Naval War College who are co-founders of the college s recently established China Maritime Studies Institute. Given the opaque nature of China s undersea warfare development, readers will benefit from this penetrating investigation that considers the potential impact of even the most revolutionary changes in Chinese nuclear submarine capabilities. The editors believe that to ignore such possibilities would be the height of strategic folly and represent inexcusable negligence in terms of U.S. national defense. Anyone who is interested in the future of the U.S. Navy and the defense of the United States will find this book to be essential reading.

Tells the story of the growing Chinese Navy - The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) - and its expanding capabilities, evolving roles and military implications for the USA. Divided into four thematic sections, this special collection of essays surveys and analyzes the most important aspects of China's navel modernization.

Using major new documentary sources, the authors tell the story of why and how China built its nuclear submarine flotilla and the impact of that development on the nation's politics, technology, industry, and strategy.

China’s emergence as a global economic superpower, and as a major regional military power in Asia and the Pacific, has had a major impact on its relations with the United States and its neighbors. China was the driving factor in the new strategy the United States announced in 2012 that called for a “rebalance” of U.S. forces to the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, China’s actions on its borders, in the East China Sea, and in the South China Sea have shown that it is steadily expanding its geopolitical role in the Pacific and having a steadily increasing impact on the strategy and military developments in other Asian powers.