China’s Secret Underground Naval Base China has built a naval base for nuclear submarines along the southern coast of Hainan Island, China. Named the Yulin Naval Base or in Chinese: 榆林海军基地, it can hold a signicant portion of China’s Naval assets.
A number of global intelligence agencies have confirmed the existence of the base. Moreover, India’s intelligence agency has taken the lead due to the proximity of the base towards southeastern Asia.
Furthermore, the base is located about equidistant between Australia, Japan and India, who are China’s 3 largest regional rivals.
According to satellite images the caverns can take up to 20 Chinese nuclear submarines at any given time.
The base is situated on the physical part of China that is closest to the Continental Shelf, which is the area of seabed around a large land mass where the sea is relatively shallow compared with the open ocean. The continental shelf is geologically part of the continental crust.
Aggressively close to the disputed Paracel Islands, the base is only 150 nautical miles (280 km) to the nearest Paracel Island.
Future Of US Submarines
The base is next to a resort area in China, known as the Yalong Bay National Resort District where there are a number of resort hotels. Many view this move as a way to help stoke national pride in China’s Navy.
Moreover, the Strait of Malacca is a huge piece of geopolitical imporance. Furthermore, a neighbor of the base In addition, the Strait of Malacca hosts three times the tanker volue than the Suez Canal.
And about half of global tanker volume passes through the South China Sea. Lastly, China wants more control over global trade and the placement of the base helps that cause.
In conclusion, the base first leaked to the global community in 2008 though there is still limited knowledge available. China had been able to keep it completely secret until satellites caught the submarines entering the caves.
