When discussing the rivalry between the United States and China in\nthe Indo-Pacific, public attention usually focuses on aircraft carriers,\ntrade wars, Taiwan, or diplomatic influence struggles. However, beneath\nthe ocean\u2019s surface, a far quieter competition is underway: the\nsubmarine race.<\/p>\n
In recent years, submarines have once again become one of the most\nimportant instruments in global power balancing. An article in The\nEconomist\u2019s 9 May 2026 edition on the US-China submarine rivalry\nindicates that the deep sea has returned as a primary strategic arena,\ngiven that submarines remain one of the most difficult-to-detect\nmilitary platforms in the modern era.<\/p>\n
This is important because modern warfare is becoming increasingly\ntransparent. Satellites, drones, radar, sensors, and artificial\nintelligence make military movements on land, sea, and air easier to\nmonitor. In such a situation, the ability to \u201cdisappear\u201d becomes highly\nvaluable. This is where submarines regain their relevance.<\/p>\n
The United States still holds a significant advantage in undersea\nwarfare. The US nuclear submarine fleet, particularly the Virginia and\nLos Angeles classes, is considered quieter, more experienced, and\npossesses long-range operational capabilities that China has not yet\nfully matched.<\/p>\n
The Virginia-class submarines, for example, are designed for multiple\nmissions: hunting enemy submarines, attacking land targets with Tomahawk\nmissiles, gathering intelligence, and supporting special forces\noperations. Their level of quietness makes these vessels extremely\ndifficult to detect.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the older Los Angeles-class submarines remain a crucial\nbackbone of the American undersea fleet. Although some are ageing, these\nvessels have extensive operational experience since the end of the Cold\nWar and are still regarded as highly lethal in undersea warfare. Guam\nitself serves as one of the key centres for US undersea operations in\nthe Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n
In various Taiwan conflict simulations, US submarines are estimated\nto play a central role. Submarines can attack enemy naval fleets,\nblockade supply routes, launch long-range missiles, gather intelligence,\nand insert special forces. In fact, many analysts believe that\nsubmarines may be more decisive than aircraft carriers in the early\nphases of a major Pacific conflict.<\/p>\n
However, this advantage does not put Washington at ease. China\ncontinues to accelerate the modernisation of its navy, including its\nsubmarine fleet and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Beijing appears\nto understand that as long as the United States remains dominant\nunderwater, China\u2019s ability to control the areas around Taiwan and the\nSouth China Sea will always face significant obstacles.<\/p>\n
The undersea power map of the Indo-Pacific is also becoming\nincreasingly complex. The United States indeed still leads in global\nsubmarine operational capabilities, but China is rapidly expanding and\nmodernising its fleet, including nuclear and diesel-electric submarines\nthat are becoming quieter.<\/p>\n
Beyond the US and China, Russia remains an important undersea power,\nparticularly through its Pacific fleet based in Vladivostok. Although\nthe Ukraine war is draining many of Russia\u2019s resources, Moscow\u2019s nuclear\nsubmarine capabilities continue to be a strategic factor that Washington\ntakes into account.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, other Indo-Pacific countries are also strengthening their\nundersea capabilities. Japan possesses one of the world\u2019s most advanced\nconventional submarine fleets. Australia, through AUKUS, is heading\ntowards a nuclear-powered submarine era. India continues to develop its\nundersea fleet to counter China in the Indian Ocean. Even Southeast\nAsian countries like Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam are enhancing\ntheir submarine capabilities, albeit on a more limited scale.<\/p>\n
Therefore, undersea rivalry has now become an important part of the\nbroader US-China strategic competition. The rivalry is no longer just\nabout trade or tariffs, but also about semiconductors, artificial\nintelligence, rare earths, outer space, and mastery of the deep sea.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, the return of submarine politics also illustrates how\nthe Indo-Pacific is increasingly resembling an arena of great power\ncompetition like during the Cold War era. The difference is that whereas\nthe main focus was once on the Atlantic between the United States and\nthe Soviet Union, the world\u2019s geopolitical centre of gravity has now\nshifted to the Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n
The AUKUS agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom,\nand Australia also demonstrates the importance of this undersea\ndimension. Australia is even willing to invest enormous funds to acquire\nnuclear-powered submarines, something that might have been unimaginable\na few years ago. This move shows that US allies are increasingly viewing\nundersea deterrence as a key part of their strategy to counter\nChina.<\/p>\n
For Indonesia, these developments need to be monitored seriously.\nIndonesia is not directly part of the US-China rivalry, but its\ngeographical position is highly strategic. Indonesia\u2019s sea lanes are one\nof the key connectors between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In the\ncontext of undersea competition, Indonesia\u2019s waters hold far greater\nstrategic significance than is often realised by the public.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Indonesia\u2019s challenge is not merely to maintain diplomatic\nneutrality, but also to understand the changing strategic environment\naround it. Submarine rivalry is not a distant issue relevant only to\nWashington or Beijing. It is part of a major shift in Indo-Pacific\ngeopolitics that will directly or indirectly affect Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
In the end, submarines are compelling not only because of their\ntechnology, but also because of their symbolism. They operate in\nsilence, rarely seen by the public, but can significantly alter\nstrategic balances. In many ways, the undersea riva<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-indo-pacific-and-the-return-of-submarine-politics-1778656139", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }