China’s $50 Billion Hainan Naval Base: The Key to Controlling the South China Sea

In 1949 the Chinese Communist Party took control over China, with ambitions to become the globally superpower. The Chinese focused mainly on Navy, which led it to largest naval force by today, and they have strategic place called “Hainan”, located southern part of China. Also known as China’s Hawaii, with popular tourist destination with quaint mountain villages, soft-sand beaches and fancy seaside resorts. The advantage is its proximity to the South China Sea, and CCP has noticed as soon as it gained power. So, they began to construct a navy base called Yulin Naval Base in 1950s, as effort to enhance China presence in South China Sea. Over decades, the base has undergone significant expansions, after China gaining nuclear power the station is capable of housing advanced vessels, including nuclear submarines and aircrafts carriers.

           American are most concern about Yulin base, as China claims South China Sea and Taiwan. Hainan will get unfair advantage to Chinese in taking control over Taiwan and South China Sea. As TMSC and 30 percent of global trade pass though South China Sea is in danger of failing in CCP hands.

“If you have a conflict there, up to 30 percent of world trade in oil would be affected,” Pratson said

 The people Liberation Army has more than tripled its value in military infrastructure with estimates of 200 military sites with total value exceeding $50 billion as of 2022.  The Greater Yulin Naval Base is valued ay $18 billion as of 2022 excluding underground submarine pen carved out of a mountain on the East Yulin base. Which rival the value of U.S. military vital Pacific Ocean installations: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. 

The Yulin Base is critical strategic facility for China’s military which house serval advance assets including submarines, missiles, defensive systems. The extensive underground facilities designed for China’s nuclear-powered ballistic missiles submarines (SSBNs). This fleet include four Jin-class (Type 094) SSBNs armed with JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Furthermore, equipped with DF-21D (Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile) with range of approximately 1,500 KM, known for targeting large naval vessels. DF-26 (Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile) with range of approximately 4,000 KM, known for dual-capable missiles can either be conventional or nuclear warheads with ability to strike till US bases in Guam. JL-2 (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles) with range of approximately 7,200 KM which target as far as Alaska.

              Additionally, the base it equipped with defensive system which include Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Systems capable of detecting and countering threats from enemy submarines including underwater acoustic sensors and patrol assets that secure the area surrounding the base. Further include Integrated Radar and Surveillance System, missiles defense likely includes short-to-medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems to defend against aerial threats, underground bunkers, and satellite and cyber defense.