Key Points – China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) possesses a large and expanding attack submarine fleet, comprising six nuclear-powered boats (SSNs) and 48 diesel-electric ...

China has said AUKUS is “driven by Cold War thinking,” “fuelling military ... This might mean a weakening of China’s relative submarine strength in the region regardless of what happens ...

American voters are concerned about a potential war with China, but the U.S. can sustain its submarine advantages and counter China’s military buildup by investing in submarine construction, … ...

But China knows full well that Virginia– and Los Angeles-class attack submarines would be the linchpin of any U.S. effort to defend Taiwan or the Philippines in any war with the PLA.

The strategy is facing challenges from China in recent years, which has the largest navy in the world by hull count. The country's naval fleet, consisting of more than 370 ships and submarines ...

In the meantime, the U.S. is attempting to grow the submarine fleet as a counter to China’s growing navy. ... at the height of the Cold War, and 8.6 percent during the Vietnam War.