As US Pacific allies eye nuclear submarines, should China be concerned?

China now has the largest naval fleet in the world, and its growing numbers of nuclear-powered submarines are an integral part of its efforts to project power beyond its coastal waters. But the view from Beijing is growing more complex as a handful of US allies in the Pacific also ramp up deployment of nuclear-powered subs.

According to analysts, these US allies face many challenges in building nuclear-powered submarines, which could take several decades to complete, but these developments could complicate Beijing’s calculation of naval deterrence in the region, especially during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Nuclear-powered submarines – also known as SSNs, or Submersible Ship Nuclear – are powered by nuclear reactors, but not necessarily armed with nuclear weapons.

Compared with conventional diesel-electric submarines, which require frequent refuelling, nuclear reactors allow the submarine to operate under water at a higher speed for an extended period of time, essentially with unlimited range.

Because of their advantages in stealth, speed and endurance, nuclear subs have played a crucial role as strategic assets that project maritime deterrence in blue waters. They are often equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles.