Type 094 nuclear submarine is China’s ‘King of the South China Sea’ in bid for deterrence

Jin-class strategic submarine could threaten US territory from the contested waterway, but its flaw may make it easy to track

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The US and its allies closely monitor China’s Type 094 Jin-class submarines, which have been observed conducting “near-continuous” patrols in the contested South China Sea. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:56pm, 10 Feb 2025

Almost a decade has passed since the People’s Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping’s plans for a massive overhaul of the world’s biggest military. In the fifth of a series on Chinese weapons systems, we look at the country’s submarine developments.

In the depths of the South China Sea, a fully armed black giant glides through the waters – hidden yet ever prepared.

Its primary mission is to ensure any move towards nuclear aggression from China’s possible enemies – including the United States – is met with devastating consequences.

The presence of the Type 094 nuclear ballistic missile submarine marked a significant milestone, with the US defence department describing it as China’s “first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent”.

Beijing operates six of the submarines that are capable of firing JL-2 missiles, and possibly the more sophisticated JL-3 missiles that could strike US territory from Chinese shores.

The US and its allies closely monitor these giants, which have been observed conducting “near-continuous” patrols in the contested South China Sea. In June, one of the Chinese subs, which appeared to be the Type 094, made headlines when it surfaced unexpectedly in the Taiwan Strait – a rare and eye-catching event for such a secretive and strategic device.

SCMP Series

China’s weapons systems

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