US Advisory Panel Warns of China’s Rapid Gains in Undersea Warfare

The undersea domain, long considered the "silent service" where the United States maintained an undisputed technological and operational edge, is rapidly becoming a primary theater of strategic competition. A recent hearing by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) has sounded a clear alarm: China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is not just expanding its fleet; it is closing the qualitative gap that has historically protected American interests in the Indo-Pacific. This development represents a fundamental shift in the maritime balance of power, as Beijing leverages massive industrial capacity and emerging technologies to challenge US undersea superiority.

Central to this concern is the rapid modernization of the PLAN’s submarine force. Rear Admiral Richard Seif, commander of the US Naval Submarine Forces, highlighted the SHANG III and the Type 095 nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines as formidable assets. These vessels represent a significant leap in stealth, endurance, and lethality. Unlike previous generations of Chinese submarines, which were often criticized for being noisy and easily detectable, these new platforms suggest that China has successfully integrated advanced acoustic quieting and propulsion technologies. The emergence of the Type 095, in particular, signals China's intent to field a true peer to the US Virginia-class attack submarines, potentially neutralizing the acoustic advantage that has been the cornerstone of US naval doctrine for decades.

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Rear Admiral Richard Seif, commander of the US Naval Submarine Forces, highlighted the SHANG III and the Type 095 nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines as formidable assets.

The scale of China’s industrial ambition is equally striking. Rear Admiral Mike Brookes, commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence, provided a sobering projection: by 2035, China could possess a fleet of approximately 80 submarines, with half of those being nuclear-powered. This trajectory is fueled by a domestic shipbuilding infrastructure that currently dwarfs that of the United States. While the US Navy struggles with maintenance backlogs and a fragile supply chain for its own submarine programs, China is demonstrating an ability to iterate and produce advanced hulls at a pace that suggests a long-term commitment to maritime hegemony. This is not merely a numbers game; it is about the ability to sustain a high-tempo presence across the First Island Chain and into the deep Pacific.