[imagesource: Photo Labs]

The last time we checked in on China, researchers had discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic.

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about…

Apart from terrifying the world with news of a new virus, China has also been attracting media attention following mass protests in Hong Kong, which started last year and were recently revived as the struggle for democracy continues.

I think it’s safe to say that Hong Kongers aren’t fans of the state or its ironically named People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

With that in mind, let’s move on to a sinister submarine sneaking out of a heavily protected underground facility, like something out of a Bond film.

Image: Photo Labs

Satellite imagery from August 18 shows what appears to be a Type 093, or Shang-class, submarine in service of PLAN outside an underground bunker at Yulin Naval Base, on the southern Chinese island province of Hainan.

Image: Photo Labs

According to NewsAU, Radio Free Asia (RFA)’s Drake Long identified the nuclear submarine as one of the vessels used to hunt and kill other submarines and warships.

Cool – nothing ominous about that. Everything is fine.

“Given the narrow aperture of the tunnel, you are just asking for trouble for a submarine to leave the tunnel under its own power,” retired USN Captain Christopher Carlson is quoted as saying. “Most people don’t realise submarines manoeuvre like pigs on the surface.”

Why is it always pigs? I’m giving up bacon.

That was a lie, I could never give up bacon.

According to the RFA report, the scene “hints at how China can marshal considerable undersea power on the doorstep of the disputed South China Sea”.

Before everyone panics, it isn’t really that uncommon for the facility to release subs into the wild.

Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island is usually a hive of submarine activity, with three submarines – two ballistic missile carriers and one smaller attack type – tied up at the open piers.

Still, America is concerned, having sent surveillance aircraft into the area in recent weeks.

Open source satellite images taken during the past two decades reveal Hainan Island has been heavily fortified in that time.

Protecting the 25sq km network of tunnels and submarine facilities are large armoured towers containing anti-ship and anti-air missile launchers. These, with a scattering of point-defence guns, also protect the nearby piers and ammunition-handling facilities.

Work began on the facility in 2000, and while they’ve made progress, as you can see from the infographic below, work still needs to be done:

Image: NewsAU

You can read more about the naval base here.

Interesting times, indeed.

[source:news.com.au]