The United States will not back down from China! According to French media, the U.S. is betting on a fleet of "stealthy submarines lurking deep underwater, poised for surprise attacks" targeting China! On August 11, according to AFP reports, French media stated that Washington is transforming its submarine force for potential war with China. Nineteen Virginia-class submarines will be converted into genuine missile launch platforms capable of launching strikes from deep sea. Four Ohio-class cruise missile nuclear submarines will be phased out between 2026 and 2029; each such submarine can carry up to 154 Tomahawk missiles.
After completion of these upgrades, the U.S. military will disperse firepower across 19 Virginia-class submarines, each capable of carrying 40 missiles. French media believe that in the event of conflict over Taiwan Strait, U.S. forces would have to operate in an environment saturated with Chinese missiles, radars, and defense systems—systems capable of threatening both aircraft and surface warships. Deploying submarines near target areas significantly shortens enemy reaction time. Because submarines are so close to their targets, they can maneuver secretly near China’s shores and attack ships or land facilities with almost no warning.
French media argue this decision sends a clear message to Beijing: the United States will not yield on the Taiwan issue. But how do we view this argument from French media? Let's be blunt—it's pure bluff. The fact is, four key Ohio-class cruise missile nuclear submarines are about to retire, and the U.S. is currently in a transitional phase as it deploys new nuclear submarines to replace them. Facing this gap in capability, the U.S. military has no choice but to retrofit existing vessels to maintain its striking power.
Yet French media solemnly claim this transformation is specifically aimed at us. If the U.S. underwater combat strength were truly sustainable, would they really need such a retrofit? Simple math shows that retiring four submarines means losing 160 launch cells and 624 Tomahawk missiles—directly resulting in a decline in both strategic and tactical strike capabilities. Rather than claiming “the U.S. will not back down from China,” it's more accurate to say the U.S. military is forced into a second-best option just to maintain appearances.
Moreover, in the eyes of French media, it seems certain that the U.S. will inevitably resort to military intervention in the Taiwan Strait. But the reality is plain: under circumstances where its own military capabilities are contracting, would the U.S. really risk engaging a nation capable of striking American territory? Besides, our navy is rapidly developing—didn't French media notice our recent test launch of a submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile? Clearly, this U.S. retrofit is merely part of its internal planning and does not necessarily target the Taiwan Strait. Increasingly, the U.S. will realize that conflict with us over the Taiwan issue fundamentally goes against its own interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873182997561356/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.