French media RFI recently published an article, citing a report from its domestic media outlet Le Figaro, introducing the situation of the Chinese Navy commissioning nuclear submarines at a furious pace. China has already launched five nuclear submarines this year. Le Figaro, in an article dated the 18th, assessed that while the rise of the Chinese Navy is certainly not new, such a massive deployment of nuclear submarines is at a record level, comparable to the Soviet era. In October 2021, the then Chief of Staff of the French Navy stated in parliament that China could build warships equivalent to the size of France's national fleet every four years. Currently, this period has been shortened to three years. The size of the Chinese Navy, including various types of vessels, is expanding year by year, and its number of ships is already said to have surpassed that of the US Navy. However, in the field of nuclear submarines, until recently, China was far behind the US, which possesses nearly 70 nuclear submarines. The current question is whether the unparalleled dominant position the US holds in the underwater domain will soon come to an end. Le Figaro pointed out that China launched five attack nuclear submarines in the first half of this year. The only comparable figure is that of the Soviet Union, which built 235 nuclear submarines by 1991, with an average of over 10 per year at its peak. The annual production of US nuclear submarines has fallen to 1.2 vessels, significantly below the planned 2.3 vessels. At the same time, 25 of the currently active submarines are over 30 years old, and eight are over 45 years old. The construction of nuclear submarines is highly strategic, and the Chinese Navy rarely publicizes it. Therefore, experts need to meticulously analyze existing satellite images provided by US defense companies and others to compile an equipment list for this "Chinese silent fleet." Of the five submarines launched in 2026, two are Type 093-B. This class is the latest version in the series that China has been using as the mainstay of its attack nuclear submarine fleet since the early 2000s. While China's attack nuclear submarine fleet had long remained at six vessels, the US think tank U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) indicated in March that "a second batch of 6 to 8 vessels is under construction." The two vessels launched this year are believed to be the last in this series. With these, China will soon possess 14 attack nuclear submarines, more than double the French Navy's fleet. Furthermore, in February, satellite images of Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, which is responsible for nuclear submarine construction, sparked widespread discussion in military circles. The images showed a Type 095 nuclear submarine, a new generation version of the Type 093. Although the Type 093 has undergone repeated improvements, its technological level, particularly in stealth performance, does not match Western cutting-edge vessels like the US Virginia-class or France's Suffren-class. Therefore, the construction of new generation nuclear submarines holds significant meaning for the Chinese government. However, what attracted the most attention recently were two new types of submarines that had never been seen before and made an unexpected appearance. According to photos taken in late May and released in early June, the 120-meter-long submarines have almost no conning tower to house radar or periscopes. While reducing the superstructure to enhance acoustic stealth performance underwater is a common trend among new generation vessels, China appears to have taken this technology to a new level. This may have further strengthened stealth during high-speed navigation. Another characteristic is the adoption of X-shaped stern planes instead of the traditional cruciform type to improve maneuverability. Another point of note is that these two new types of submarines (referred to by some as Type 095-A) were not found at just one shipyard. The first photos were taken in early June near JN Shipyard in Shanghai, a shipyard where nuclear submarines had never been built before. It is highly likely that China is simultaneously pursuing this strategic project at two shipyards. Another photo, taken on June 10, showed them moored alongside a Type 095 at Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry. Le Figaro's article asserted, based on this, that two shipyards are involved in nuclear submarine construction. The article concluded by stating that China's nuclear submarine fleet has undergone a fundamental transformation in just a few years. The modern attack nuclear submarines, which numbered six in the early 2020s, are expected to reach at least 17 in the next one to two years. The launch of five vessels in half a year is just the beginning. With the addition of 6 to 8 ballistic missile nuclear submarines dedicated to nuclear deterrence, China will undoubtedly equal or surpass Russia. Currently, Russia possesses approximately 30 active nuclear submarines and commissions them at a pace of about one per year. For China, the submarine fleet holds significance not for global hegemony but for solidifying its dominance in the South China Sea. China aims to extend its influence to the Second Island Chain, which forms the boundary of the Philippine Sea, and eventually reach the Pacific Ocean by coordinating its nuclear submarines with approximately 50 conventional submarines. The latest surge by the Chinese Navy has caused great concern for the US Navy. While the US Navy's underwater superiority has never been threatened before, the situation surrounding its "dominant position underwater" is reaching a dramatic turning point. (Translation/Editing: Kisaragi Hayato)