Submarine attacks may be Achilles' heel for China's new carrier fleet

China's rapidly growing fleet of aircraft carriers could be significantly vulnerable to submarine attacks, an area where its defensive capabilities lag behind those of the United States, according to a recent report.

The report, from the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, outlines a "cost-imposition" strategy designed to challenge China's naval expansion. This strategy involves multiple elements, including land-based strike networks, long-range air power supported by satellites, cyber and electromagnetic attacks, and drone swarms.

However, analysts believe that submarine ambushes represent the most critical vulnerability for China's carrier groups. The report specifically highlights U.S. attack submarines operating in the western Pacific as a potent threat. It suggests that deficiencies in the Chinese navy's undersea detection and tracking systems could leave its high-value aircraft carriers exposed to attack.

This potential weakness underscores the ongoing strategic competition between the U.S. and China in naval power. Exploiting these gaps in China's undersea warfare capabilities could become a key component of U.S. and allied strategies to counter the expanding Chinese fleet.