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Google Earth imagery reveals entrance to China sub tunnel

Special to World Tribune.com
EAST-ASIA-INTEL.COM
Monday, August 7, 2006

Satellite imagery from publicly available Google Earth has been used to reveal an underwater submarine tunnel entrance located several miles south of the major Chinese naval facility at Yulin, on Hainan Island.

China has constructed an underground and underwater submarine facility on Hainan Island as part of a major buildup of naval forces in the South China Sea. The Yulin facility is strategically located close to the shipping lane from the Strait of Malacca.

Satellite imagery from publicly available Google Earth shows the major Chinese naval facility at Yulin on Hainan Island and, at lower right the underwater submarine tunnel entrance. Google Earth, courtesy Tim Brown
The tunnel was first discovered by private imagery interpreter Tim Brown of Talent-Keyhole.com, according to the current edition of East-Asia-Intel.com.

The tunnel is believed to be the base where China will deploy its newest attack and ballistic missile submarines. The Pentagon stated earlier this year that the new Shang-class attack submarine, formerly known as the Type 093, is entering service now. The submarine was described as a “next generation” system.

China is expected to deploy at least eight submarines at the base. The tunnel is one of 10 such submarine tunnels China has built to avoid detection and attack for its submarine forces.

China also is building a new ballistic missile submarine known as the Jin-class, which will carry JL-2 nuclear missiles. The Pentagon described the new missile submarine as “an additional, survivable nuclear option” to China’s strategic nuclear buildup.

A Pentagon report from 2005 said that China was using Hainan Island as a new power projection platform as part of its “string of pearls” strategy designed to control strategic sea-lanes from the Persian Gulf to Northeast Asia.

The report said that Chinese activities are less about territorial claims than "protecting or denying the transit of tankers through the South China Sea.”


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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