#头条首发大赛#
On the surface, the Aijiao issue is a contradiction between China and the Philippines, but in essence, it is still part of the confrontation between China and the United States. Just recently, CCTV News reported that a US military plane was spotted hovering over the South China Sea and continuously dropping unidentified objects downward. After the incident, the Chinese side immediately went to the relevant waters for salvage. According to the released video, the Chinese coast guard recovered an item. Some experts explained that this kind of detector can be used to detect the signal of the Chinese submarine, and even conduct signal confrontation with the submarine underwater. And the location of the incident is the sea area near Ren'ai Jiao.
(The picture shows an unmanned underwater vehicle)
In fact, this kind of news has been common, and in recent years, fishermen in the southeast coastal areas of the mainland have repeatedly salvaged this kind of "hard-core seafood". In 2016, China spotted a U.S. Navy survey ship operating in the South China Sea as it prepared to lift an unmanned underwater vehicle out of the water. After the Chinese side sent a small boat to get closer, it detained the unmanned underwater vehicle. In 2018, 11 fishermen in Jiangsu Province handed over nine suspicious devices to the state security department. After inspection, it was found that six of them were made from outside the country and had special functions such as underwater reconnaissance and theft of secrets.
(The picture shows an unmanned underwater vehicle)
In March 2020, a fisherman in Lianyungang also found a cylinder with a diameter as large as a bowl mouth while working. After being inspected by experts, it was found that this is the main detection equipment of the anti-submarine aircraft, which can detect and track underwater submarines to support the anti-submarine aircraft in striking submarines. In 2021, a fisherman in Jiangsu Province salvaged a strange-looking device, and then experts discovered that it was a new type of unmanned underwater vehicle wave glider that could take advantage of the undulations of the waves. In 2022, Jiangsu Province even held a special commendation conference to commend and reward more than a dozen fishermen who were salvaged and handed in. The United States has a large number of unmanned underwater vehicles, and in recent years has regarded China as its main adversary, and these devices are clearly used against China.
(The picture shows an unmanned underwater vehicle)
In fact, unmanned underwater vehicles are a kind of equipment mainly used for underwater reconnaissance and surveillance. In recent years, unmanned combat equipment has played a significant role in various conflicts, but there is not much news about unmanned underwater vehicles. In fact, compared with conventional UAVs and unmanned boats, the development threshold of unmanned underwater vehicles is higher. There are high requirements for underwater communication, materials and navigation and positioning technology. Although the world's military powers attach great importance to the development of such weapons, in fact, only a few countries currently have the capability to develop them. At present, China, the United States and Russia have announced a variety of unmanned underwater vehicles, compared with the United States, the United States has a richer variety, while Russia's unmanned underwater vehicles are more strategic deterrent.
(The picture shows China's unmanned underwater vehicle)
Similar to submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles also have the characteristics of strong concealment. In contrast, military aircraft and warships are easy to detect, causing diplomatic turmoil. Therefore, unmanned underwater vehicles are highly valued by the United States and are very suitable for conducting close reconnaissance against China. Compared with submarines, it is smaller in size, more adaptable to the seabed terrain, and has lower combat costs. In addition to some small unmanned underwater vehicles, the United States is even developing ultra-large unmanned underwater vehicles weighing tens of tons. For example, the "killer whale", a 50-ton submersible, will have a significant increase in endurance and other combat capabilities.
(The picture shows an unmanned underwater vehicle)
As for why the United States likes to drop such equipment in the South China Sea, it is not only related to the current tensions in the South China Sea. The South China Sea not only has abundant resources and strategic shipping lanes, but is also the main area of activity for the mainland's strategic nuclear submarines. Therefore, continued monitoring of the South China Sea will weaken the mainland's strategic deterrence and give the United States a greater advantage in great power competition. But what is even more pressing now is the conflict between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which could start reclamation of Scarborough Shoal if the Philippines launches further provocations. At that time, Scarborough Shoal will become another important strategic fulcrum in the South China Sea, launching a more powerful deterrent against the Philippines. But the United States has previously threatened to bomb China's artificial islands, and it is not known what dangerous actions the United States will take.