CHINA'S NUCLEAR SUB EFFORTS SAID TO BE LINKED TO TAIWAN ISSUE
Ottawa, Dec. 6 (CNA) There are indications that Communist China has started to build its new-generation nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed strategic submarine (SSBN) and that by constructing the Type 094 submarine, it is trying to prevent the United States from interfering in the Taiwan Strait, according to a recent issue of the Toronto-based Kanwa News.
The paper quoted a Chinese official report as saying General Zhang Wannian, vice-chairman of the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, recently visited HuLu Dao Shipyard where the SSBN is apparently being constructed.
Judging from the ranking officials that accompanied him, the inspection was seen as being related to the construction of the SSBN, the military intelligence report said.
It noted that among the 200 officials who accompanied Zhang, were the elite of the Chinese army and the military scientific and technical development industry. Also present were the heads of the Navy, the nuclear industry, the aerospace industry, the General Staff, and the heads of several committees related to industries engaged in military research.
During the inspection, Zhang emphasized that the shipyard is facing an arduous task, but that production, especially military production, must be completed in time with a good quality, Kanwa quoted Zhang.
Kanwa quoted a Western source as saying China had originally planned to start construction of the second generation SSBN in 1997, but because the ground trail of its nuclear power system had not been completed, it turned to improving the IA-class SSBN.
It has been reported that the improved IA-class SSBNs have already been rearmed with 12 JL2 SLBM, in order to strengthen the nuclear deterrence against the United States.
Zhang's inspection shows once again that China attaches great importance to nuclear deterrence forces, with which Beijing hopes to prevent the US from intervening in the Taiwan problem, the Kanwa News said. (By S.C. CHANG)
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