This Chinese Island Holds the Secrets to Beijing’s Massive Naval Expansion | WSJ Coordinates

by Panzer
- [Narrator] The tropical island of Hainan is known
as China's Hawaii,
but behind its pristine beaches hides a secret.
On this hill above a luxury hotel
is a surface to air missile site
guarding two of China's most important naval facilities,
Yulin and Longpo.
In recent years, Beijing has begun dramatically expanding
the two bases to accommodate a growing fleet of vessels
and to provide a home for China's new
seaborne nuclear deterrent.
What's happening on Hainan Island
reveals how China plans to challenge US naval supremacy
and how it's preparing for a possible war over Taiwan.
Alexander Neal is a former defense analyst
for the British government.
- Nainan a very important location strategically.
that also offers geographical projection
for the people's liberation army into the South China Sea
region submarines,
which can follow down this channel into the really deep
parts of the South China Sea,
which allow for difficulty in detection.
- [Narrator] Satellite images show significant work
to expand the facilities in Hainan.
Additional piers have been built
allowing up to 12 submarines to dock at the base.
- The ability to replenish, resupply
and re-arm these submarines is really a significant
development in a very short period of time.
The number of nuclear submarines
that China wields is beginning to look along the sort
of capabilities that the United States, France,
and the UK has.
- [Narrator] The base is also equipped with a large facility
to service China's nuclear submarines.
An entrance into the mountain up to 60 feet high
can be seen here leading to what is thought to be a weapons
loading facility.