US-China Subterranean Warfare: Future wars will no longer be confined to land, sky, or sea; they will also be fought underground. The US military’s growing underground warfare capabilities have Chinese strategists worried.
The “Chinese Institute of Command and Control” has warned that the US has expanded its strategic and tactical reach underground, painting a frightening picture of future wars.
submarine that operates underground
According to Chinese defense experts, Palmer Luckey, founder of defense technology company Anduril, has strongly promoted the concept of a submarine, a specialized vehicle that can move within the Earth’s crust in a manner similar to how submarines move in the ocean.
A recent report by the Guodong think tank claims that if this technology becomes a reality, it will pose an unprecedented challenge to China’s decades-old defense strategy, which has until now relied on high mountains and inaccessible geographical areas.
Radar and satellites may fail
The biggest concern for China is that its current security systems, which include satellites, radars and signal sensors, are not capable of detecting movements deep below the ground.
According to the report, it is virtually impossible for existing systems to detect underground tunneling activities or vehicles moving through them. In such a situation, if an enemy country gains access to the interior through tunnels, the time available for defensive preparations would be virtually nil.
There is also fear of nuclear and chemical attacks.
Experts warn that China’s existing civil defense infrastructure and underground facilities could prove extremely vulnerable to these advanced technologies. In addition to infiltration, nuclear-powered “subterranean” vehicles could pose a radiological threat. Furthermore, the underground environment could be ideal for an adversary to spread chemical or biological agents.
America’s preparations
The US military has already taken steps in this direction. In 2019, the US released its “Operational Doctrine” for underground warfare. West Point expert John Spencer argues that underground warfare should be recognized as an independent domain of warfare because it offers a surefire way to evade satellite surveillance and precision strikes.
In response, Chinese think tanks have advocated for a comprehensive “National Underground Security Strategy.” This includes nationwide military geological surveys, investments in advanced detection technology, and upgrades to civil defense facilities. Experts say that preparing for underground battlefields is no longer an option but a necessity for survival in future wars.