China is deploying a new front of underwater warfare

China managed for the first time in history to ensure constant combat duty at sea at least one nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles (an established abbreviation is SSBN). This means a constant readiness for a covert strike, Reuters reported, citing a Pentagon report on Chinese military capabilities. The constant patrolling of the South China Sea by Chinese submarines will draw significant attention from Washington and equally significant funds. Even with the recently concluded agreement by the anti-China bloc AUKUS, according to which Australia will host American and British nuclear submarines on a rotational basis by 2027, the US will have to invest a lot of resources in confronting China at sea.

The situation is further aggravated by the fact that the third-generation JL-3 intercontinental ballistic missiles for submarines (SLBMs) ​​of the third generation JL-3 entered service with Chinese submarines, their range exceeds 10,000 km. This was announced to the US Congress in March by the head of the US Strategic Command, General Anthony J. Cotton. Thus, for the first time, Beijing has at its disposal a weapon that can hit targets on the US mainland when launched close to the Chinese coastline. It is noteworthy that the adoption of the JL-3 into service happened much faster than the US military expected: it was previously believed that the missiles would go to the troops along with the new Type 096 submarine, which should be put into service within a few years.