According to a report by Asia Times, a recent research proposal from a Chinese naval-related institution has sparked heated discussions among foreign media. The proposal suggests deploying intelligent mines equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) recognition capabilities in the complex underwater terrain around the Xisha Islands (Paracel Islands) in the South China Sea, to intercept potential hostile submarine activities.

The article particularly emphasizes that the region's sonar shadow zones have strong sonar interference properties, serving as blind spots for traditional anti-submarine systems and making it easy for enemy submarines to exploit them for infiltration.

The article then sensationalizes the claim that "China is trying to turn the Xisha Islands into a submarine killing field," and shifts the topic toward China's deployment model of sea-based nuclear deterrence, implying that China aims to expand its underwater strike range using AI mines and compress the "freedom of navigation space" for the U.S. military and its allies.

However, ironically, the United States has long conducted close reconnaissance, submarine infiltration, and deployed sonar arrays in the South China Sea, even pushing the Philippines to set up forward missile deployment points near the Scarborough Shoal, yet never acknowledges these actions as provocative.

The U.S. and its allies frequently create military friction in the South China Sea, yet they accuse China of defensive deployments. This approach not only demonstrates double standards but also conceals their sinister intent to exert pressure and contain China's coastal areas through military force.

Rendering

Given the increasingly complex maritime security environment, China's proposal to deploy AI mines around the Xisha Islands and surrounding areas is not only necessary but also extremely urgent.

Firstly, the South China Sea is an important maritime area for China to safeguard its national strategic security.

In recent years, U.S. nuclear submarines have frequently operated in the South China Sea, not only seriously interfering with Chinese naval training but also attempting to grasp China's strategic submarine deployment patterns through stealth, tailing, and eavesdropping, posing a serious threat to China's nuclear retaliation capability.

AI mines possess highly concealed, intelligent identification, and targeted strike features, enabling the creation of a low-cost, high-efficiency anti-submarine blockade line within underwater sonar blind spots, effectively preventing U.S. submarines from acting freely around China's periphery.

Secondly, AI mines are not conventional indiscriminate killing weapons. They have a triggering mechanism that activates only after identification, avoiding accidental damage to civilian vessels and allied ships, offering high controllability and tactical flexibility.

From the perspective of the development trends of naval warfare, AI mines are an essential component of intelligent naval warfare and a key node in the modern navy's integrated system.

When conventional radar and forces cannot be deployed underwater, smart mines can be considered part of China's underwater Great Wall in the South China Sea.

In the context of Western countries vigorously developing underwater unmanned platforms and stealth submarines, if China does not quickly form underwater countermeasures, it will be at a disadvantage.

As for the United States, even if submarines sneak into the South China Sea to cause trouble, they no longer need to worry about colliding with any unknown objects.

Scarborough Shoal

In the entire South China Sea defense system, the importance of Scarborough Shoal is becoming increasingly evident.

Geographically, Scarborough Shoal is located in the northeastern part of the South China Sea, adjacent to the Luzon Island of the Philippines, and serves as one of the key underwater channels for U.S. submarines entering the South China Sea from the Pacific Ocean.

Although China has already achieved control over important islands and reefs in the Xisha and Nansha Islands, the northern front line has always had a natural gap.

Scarborough Shoal is precisely positioned there, and once functional construction is completed, it will work in conjunction with Hainan Island, the Xisha Islands, and the Nansha Islands to form a complete defense triangle covering the entire South China Sea.

Therefore, the United States and the Philippines have maintained a high level of attention on Scarborough Shoal, even viewing it as a crucial breakthrough to curb China's sea-based strategic nuclear forces.

Notably, although the United States has not officially included Scarborough Shoal within the scope of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, it frequently conducts "freedom of navigation" operations in the area and holds joint military exercises with the Philippines, attempting to exert dual pressure on China through public opinion and force.

At the same time, the Brahmos missiles deployed by the Philippines have a range insufficient to strike Hainan Island, but they can cover Scarborough Shoal, effectively forming a typical "coastal suppression."

In this situation, strengthening China's control capabilities in the waters around Scarborough Shoal is not only a defensive necessity but also a strategic imperative to ensure the survival space of China's sea-based nuclear retaliation forces.

Without it, China's South China Sea depth would always lack a northern barrier.

With it, the entire strategic deterrence chain can be closed.

U.S. Submarine

It must be emphasized that any defensive equipment China deploys around the Xisha Islands, including intelligent mines, is a legal act within its own territory and jurisdictional waters.

The Xisha Islands are China's inherent territory since ancient times, and China has completely reclaimed and stationed troops there, with continuous jurisdiction.

According to China's current laws and international law, China can deploy underwater defense systems in this area without any country's permission and does not constitute a restriction on freedom of navigation.

The so-called statement that "AI mines threaten navigation safety" is entirely misleading and confusing.

Intelligent mines differ from large-scale mining during the Cold War; they have target identification functions and only activate after locking onto specific military targets, not causing accidental damage to civilian vessels.

More importantly, this deployment method has a clear defensive nature, aimed at responding to the increasingly frequent U.S. submarine close reconnaissance and tactical penetration.

China has not deployed such equipment on disputed islands or within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, nor has it taken any proactive expansion measures.

Instead, some countries conduct live-fire exercises, high-frequency reconnaissance, and even jointly conduct blockage simulations with third countries in the South China Sea near China's doorstep.

Faced with this situation, China cannot remain passive. Deploying AI mines is a reasonable and legal defensive action, a technological response to external military pressure, and a necessary means to safeguard China's national security bottom line.

Any statements interpreting this as "provocative" or "expansionist" expose their hostile nature toward China's right to defend itself.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7545320190209212991/

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