인도양에서 영향력을 확대해가는 중국 해군

[위종민]

https://bityl.co/8I1Q (Submarine Matters)

중국이 093급 SSN과 송급, 원급 잠수함을 포함한 잠수함대들이 인도양에서 활동중이며, 동아프리카 해적 토벌을 명분으로 052D급 구축함, 54A급 프리깃과 지원함으로 구성된 소함대들이 이를 지원하고 있다고 합니다. 

인도양에선 파키스탄의 과다르 항, 스리랑카의 함반토타항을 중국이 통제하고 있으며, 아라비아해에는 지부티항에도 영향력을 발휘하고 있습니다. 

"West China Sea" to replace Indian Ocean

Following "Fewer Pakistani subs operational while India to gain one" of August 13, 2021 and inspired by Ghalib Kabir’s comments:

"West China Sea" is not as funny as it sounds. Senior Chinese Communist Party leaders in the past have been so contemptuous of India, that they felt India did not deserve to be associated with one of the world’s large oceans. 

Fortunately, China still has a long way to go to create its own Mare Nostrum "West China Sea". India's forces and the US Air Force and Navy are still much more powerful and have bigger, better, bases in the Indian Ocean.

Assisted by new Chinese ports/bases in the Indian Ocean, Chinese vessels are becoming a regular presence. Vessels include:

-  Chinese Song and Yuan class SSKs, their submarine tenders and Type 093 SSNs.

-  more obvious surface flotillas, featuring Type 052D destroyers, Type 54A frigates along with their logistical supply ships carrying fuel and dry stores. These mini flotillas operate  under the pretext of anti piracy patrols off the East African coast, while also acting as "cover" for Chinese submarine operations.

Chinese submarines, secretly surveilling the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea (in concert with Pakistani submarines) are much more common than generally known. Type 093s, Songs, Yuans and tenders regularly show up at the Chinese base in Hambantota in Sri Lanka and at Gwadar in Pakistan. Pakistan is becoming more dependent on the future supply of 8 x Yuan export variants from China because Pakistan's return to financial crisis means it cannot afford to repair or upgrade its 5 Agosta subs.

The Red dots mark the locations of emerging ports/bases being developed by China in the Indian Ocean (Map courtesy CIMSEC). 

Further clear indicators that China has major "String of Pearls" economic and strategic aspirations in the Indian Ocean are the emerging Chinese built port facilities in Myanmar and Djibouti in East Africa. 

Island Chain Strategies

Associated with the "String of Pearls" are the Island Chains China wants to be able pass through freely with large military forces (especially naval fleets and SSBNs) to have the type of geo-strategic freedom the US Navy enjoys. The US Island Chain Strategy means power and freedom for the US already. Below is the Island Chain map.

Of the Island Chains the first three are in the Pacific and next two in the Indian Ocean. So:

-  First - runs from the Kurile islands, down through the Japanese Archipelago, Okinawa, very significantly Taiwan, Philippines, then hooks around encompassing most of the South China Sea.

-  Second - Japan, through Guam, down to Western New Guinea (aka Irian Jaya) encompassing much of the Wester Pacific.

-  Third - Aleution islands, Hawaii down to New Zealand. Australia being at the southern base between Second and Third island chains.

-  Fourth - less defined - central Indian Ocean from Gwadar, Pakistan, in the north, through the Diego Garcia presumably to Antarctica, and

-  Fifth - less defined, Gulf of Aden, then south along the East African coast presumably to Antarctica.

Stay tuned for two more articles tomorrow, based on Ghalib Kabir’s (and some of my own) thoughts.

[백선호]

... secretly surveilling the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea (in concert with Pakistani submarines) 이라...

파키스탄과 함께 인도의 신경을 긁고 있네요.

[위종민]

미국이 빠졌으니 파키스탄에 대한 영향력은 더 커질 것 같습니다. 십년 정도만 지나면 무기체계가 죄다 중국화될 듯..

[백선호]

파키스탄이 갖고 있는 F-16과 AIM-120C5 정보는 중국이 다 털어가지 않았을지...-.-;;;

[위종민]

북한도 나눠가졌을 듯 ㅜㅜ

[달을찾는파도(박수홍)]

다운 그레이드 버젼일겁니다. 그리고 정보를 배워 간다고 하더라도 재밍하는게 그리 만만하지는 않을 겁니다. 아직 우린 C7 버젼이 있으니... (이렇게 말해도 위안이 안 되네요)