Top PLA strategist downplays Malabar exercise, says won’t hurt Chinese submarines

leading People's Liberation Army (PLA) military strategist, Major General Du Wenlong, has described the on-going India-United States-Japan Malabar naval exercise as having "low combat value" and posing little challenge to Chinese submarines. One of the areas of focus of this year's three-way drills to take place from June 7 to 15 off the coast of Guam is anti-submarine warfare.

Speaking to the official State broadcaster China Central Television, PLA Academy of Military Science senior researcher Du Wenlong, who has been identified by State media as holding the rank of a Major General, said the drills pose no concern for China.

"The target of the exercise is the Chinese submarines and the drill is intended to limit China's underwater activities," he said. "The joint drill aims to form an integrated air-surface-underwater anti-submarine network to target Chinese submarines and to limit China's underwater activities. At present, this so-called anti-submarine methods can theoretically play a deterring role. However, in actual combat, this deterrence effect is low."

China, he said, had "many means to respond". "For example, we can reduce the noise of the submarines. With continuous technological improvement, our shock absorption and noise reduction technology has reached the world's advanced level." Du added that " actical coordination is also very important for conducting anti-submarine operations".

"For example, submarines can conduct stealth activities in the designated sea area with the help of surface and air operations. So, it's still a big challenge to locate a submarine in actual combat. Therefore, even though the target of this joint drill is underwater activities in China, the actual combat value is quite low."

India has sent stealth frigate INS Sahyadri, anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kamorta, INS Shakti a fleet tanker and the US-bought P8-I maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

Du suggested that one of the American goals of the exercise could be to get India and Japan to use more of its anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

"Although India has purchased a certain number of P-8 anti-submarine aircraft," Du said, "it is far from enough for the US. If Japan and India can purchase a large number of US anti-submarine equipment in accordance with the US standards, it will have an important significance in binding allies, strengthening the so-called strategic alliance, and expanding arms sales."

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