that assessment on vietnam submarine force is interesting as it comes from the PRC defence ministry. I comment (in blue) on some of their statements.
Commentary: Vietnam’s submarine no way to scare China
We cannot assess the strength of an army just on the basis of one or two weapons. What’s most important in the modern warfare is systematic strength, and what decides the overall combat capability isn’t usually the strongest aspect.
well, that is true. the overall capacity of an army includes not only military hardware but the fighting skills of its soldiers. we must return to our root, sharpen our intelligence, exploit enemy weakness, learn how to fight against a numericial superior army. strategy, tactic that matter too and can decide who wins the battle or the outcome of a war. Asymmetric warfare against perceived systematic strength.
Although distance will impair the overall advantage possessed by the Chinese PLAN over Vietnam, China’s strength in long-range precise strike and underwater fleet is unparalleled by Vietnam. Once a conflict takes place, the Chinese troops won’t wait for the Vietnamese submarines to block their way.
that is expected: the PLA will launch missile and arial strikes on our military targets, including Cam Ranh bay, the host of vietnam submarine fleet. our answer must be a missile defenced shield.
Besides, to engage in a submarine battle, Vietnam also needs external support in terms of intelligence, commanding, communication and marine hydrology, which are no less important than the submarine itself. Even the simplest issue of underwater sea-route information may have to take Vietnam quite some time.
that is undisputed.
Vietnam needs to have an objective understanding of its own strength. It used to learn some hard lessons in this regard, so it had better keep a clear mind now.
ha ha ha...a hint to the battle of Paracels? okay, that is indeed a bitter memory. But I can remember of sea battles when we annihilated the chinese naval fleets. It is better for China, too, to settle the dispute peacefully and not escalate it. We hold some jokers in the hand.