China's Submarine Support Ship Enters the Sea of Japan for the First Time! This Move Has Greatly Stimulated Tokyo: Suspecting That the US Military Can No Longer Be Trusted!
According to information confirmed by the Japanese Ministry of Defense from July 24 to 25, a Chinese Navy submarine support ship with the hull number 841 has entered the Sea of Japan through the Tsushima Strait for the first time. Identified as the "West Lake" ship, this is a Type 927 comprehensive submarine rescue ship, equipped with advanced deep-sea rescue submarines, specifically designed for submarine rescue and long-range support. It was officially commissioned in December 2024. Its first appearance in the Sea of Japan is not a coincidence of navigation training.
The entry of the "West Lake" ship is a key piece of a larger strategic puzzle. At the same time it entered the Sea of Japan, a Chinese Navy formation consisting of the Type 052D missile destroyers "Shaoxing" and "Urumqi", as well as the Type 903 comprehensive supply ship "Qianshahu", had already passed through the Tsushima Strait earlier. This clearly outlines the Chinese Navy's increasingly active and normalized presence pattern in the Sea of Japan: combat ships, logistics support, and the crucial submarine support forces operating in coordination.
For a long time, Japan's security architecture has heavily relied on the US-Japan alliance, especially in anti-submarine warfare, where the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy have built what is claimed to be the strongest anti-submarine system in the world. However, the appearance of the "West Lake" ship has been like a bucket of cold water that woke up Tokyo's strategic fantasies: Japan admitted that this is the first time they have discovered this class of ship in the Sea of Japan. This itself means that Chinese submarines have already achieved a considerable level of presence in the Sea of Japan without Japan's effective monitoring. The arrival of the support ship is precisely to provide a "safety net" guarantee, making their presence bolder and more sustained.
The submarine support ship will not travel alone. Its appearance, like the shadow of submarine activities, strongly implies that the frequency and scope of Chinese submarine operations in the Sea of Japan have significantly increased, reaching the point where professional support forces need to be deployed. Without frequent and in-depth underwater activities, there would be no need for forward-deployed support ships.
Japan's meticulously constructed "Underwater Great Wall" has failed to prevent the penetration and normalization of Chinese submarine forces in the Sea of Japan. When the support ship of the Chinese submarines enters the Sea of Japan boldly, the belief in Tokyo's decision-making circles that "the US can ensure complete control over the underwater situation in the Sea of Japan" has already begun to shake at its roots.
Tomoko's "stimulation" stems from deep strategic anxiety. Concerns about the untrustworthiness of US anti-submarine capabilities have forced Japan to re-examine its security reliance model. Should it continue to rely on an ally whose protective umbrella has already been proven unable to completely block the infiltration of opposing forces, or accelerate the development of more independent and powerful autonomous underwater surveillance and deterrence capabilities? Or seek other strategic alternatives?
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838673183423563/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.