**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Chinese Submarine Patrols Double in 2008
-Expert available for interviews -
WASHINGTON, DC --Chinese attack submarines sailed on more patrols in 2008 than ever before, according to information obtained by Federation of American Scientists from U.S. naval intelligence.
The information, which was declassified by U.S. naval intelligence in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Federation of American Scientists, shows that China’s fleet of more than 50 attack submarines conducted 12 patrols in 2008, twice the number of patrols conducted in 2007.
China’s strategic ballistic missile submarines have never conducted a deterrent patrol.
Highest Patrol Rate Ever
The 12 patrols conducted in 2008 constitute the highest patrol rate ever for the Chinese submarine fleet. They follow seven patrols conducted in 2007, two in 2006, and zero in 2005. China has four times refrained from conducting submarine patrols since 1981, and the previous peaks were six patrols conducted in 2000 and 2007.
To learn more please visit,
http://www.fas.org/blog/ssp/2009/02/patrols.php.
To interview Hans M. Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project, (
http://www.fas.org/press/experts/kristensen.html) please contact Monica Amarelo at 202-454-4680 or
mamarelo@fas.org.
FAS Strategic Security Blog, Feb 03-09
Article:
http://www.fas.org/blog/ssp/2009/02/patrols.php