Assessing the Undersea Balance between the United States and China
Owen R. Coté Jr., MIT Security Studies Program, “Assessing the Undersea Balance between the United States and China,” in Thomas Mahnken, ed., Competitive Strategies for the 21st Century: Theory, History, and Practice (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2012), 184-205.
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This chapter will assess the undersea balance between the United States and China by comparing their relative abilities to accomplish their respective undersea objectives. This chapter will assess both the current balance and how it might evolve in the future. In the latter case, it will focus on opportunities to exploit its unique strengths or its opponents weaknesses in ways that create favorable asymmetries in the resources that must be committed to accomplish particular missions. …
For two of the studies cited therein, see:
Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, and William S. Murray, “Chinese Mine Warfare: A PLA Navy ‘Assassin’s Mace’ Capability,” Naval War College China Maritime Study 3, August 2009.
Andrew S. Erickson and David D. Yang, “Using the Land to Control the Sea? Chinese Analysts Consider the Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile,” Naval War College Review, 62.4 (Autumn 2009): 53-86.
