Chinese Strategy to Transform Paracel Islands into Submarine Threat Zones within the South China Sea

In a groundbreaking study published in the peer-reviewed journal Technical Acoustics, a team led by Associate Professor Ma Benjun from Harbin Engineering University (HEU) has shed light on the significance of site selection for underwater target deployment, particularly in the context of the Paracel Islands.

The researchers, who are also affiliated with the People's Liberation Army Dalian Naval Academy, have focused on the acoustic shadow zones found around the rugged seamounts of the Paracel Islands. These zones, as the study explains, are areas where sound waves fracture, reflect, or vanish due to complex undersea topography.

The researchers believe that these acoustic shadow zones could potentially provide an advantage for intelligent mines, allowing them to selectively target enemy vessels and evade detection. However, it's important to note that the study does not explicitly state that these mines can selectively target enemy vessels.

The study suggests that these locations, due to their potential to hide underwater weapons, could pose a challenge to dominant strategies in undersea warfare. Yet, the research does not reiterate the idea that the Paracel Islands are referred to as "acoustic shadow zones" in the context of underwater warfare.

Despite the study's findings, there are no publicly available precise coordinates or specific positions of underwater weapons of the People's Liberation Army of China placed in the acoustic shadow zones of the Paracel Islands.

The team emphasized the importance of precise placement of sea mines within these sonar dead zones for maritime security. They believe that identifying optimal locations on the sea floor to enhance the concealment of deployed assets is crucial for future underwater warfare strategies.

However, the study does not discuss the potential challenges to US dominance in undersea warfare, nor does it mention the peer-reviewed journal where it was published. The research does not discuss the affiliations of the researchers beyond Ma Benjun's association with HEU.

In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the role of acoustic shadow zones in underwater weapons deployment and the importance of precise placement for maritime security. While the study suggests that these zones could potentially challenge dominant strategies in undersea warfare, further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand their implications.

Chinese Strategy to Transform Paracel Islands into Submarine Threat Zones within the South China Sea