- China is rapidly developing its undersea-warfare capabilities.
- That progress is being facilitated by stolen technology, according to a US admiral.
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China is boosting its undersea-warfare capabilities — and stealing US technology to do so, a US admiral says
China's rapid advancement in undersea capability has been assisted by pilfered technology, according to a senior US official.
China has made marked advancements in its undersea-warfare capabilities and is using stolen US technology to further that progress, US Navy Adm. Philip Davidson told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
Davidson, who was before the committee as the nominee to lead US Pacific Command, told senators in written testimony that while the US has a "significant asymmetric advantage in undersea warfare," the Chinese navy "is making progress" and that Beijing "has identified undersea warfare as a priority, both for increasing their own capabilities as well as challenging ours."
Chines has invested considerable resources in its submarine fleet. Since 2002, it has built 10 nuclear subs: six Shang I- and II-class nuclear-powered attack subs — capable of firing antiship and land-attack missiles — and four Jin-class nuclear-powered ballistic-missile subs, according to a 2017 US Defense Department assessment.
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Davidson emphasized the need for a "whole of government" approach by the US to deal with China, but also underscored the importance of international partnerships.
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