The Jin-Class Submarine

About a decade or so ago China compiled a report on how to become a world super power. One of their biggest topics was how the US was in fact, not a declining super power and no configuration of any world super powers could stand against them. Thats why the remain neutral on issues like Iraq. And anyone who says we are a weak military based on Iraq get a clue, please. When we swept across their country with entire battalions of tanks and the full force of our army, it was like the enemy wasn't even there. We are trying to rebuild, not level, thats why we still have insurgents.

We do need to go back to the basics. Nothing is a secret anymore. The media has told everything about the United States. Even our own government ratted out a CIA agent. The CIA is suppose to be a secret. We have taken our laws and exploited them for too long now. The Freedom of Speech was so people can voice there opinions but not to exploit every case sensitive material.

It seems crazy to me in for all the democratic governments to bang on about the global village e.g. free trading with all countries of the world, this ultimately has led us into a situation where we no longer manufacture anything as china can pay its workers a few $$ a day, they have no health insurance no union and no pensions to pay into. Obviously we in the west can never compete with this as our countries are far more expensive to live in. As a direct consequence of this china has found a new impressive financial might this in turn funds a new military might. Surely for our own security wouldn't it make more sense for us to cap or tax Chinese imports ,many of which are based on western designs that have been reversed engineered.

Hey, can we PLEASE bring these comments BACK in line? This is a SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY blog NOT NOT NOT the World Political Viewpoint blog, for goodness sakes!!!

I'm sure Ned blogged about this not to get our very differing political views but rather that we comment on the surprising LEAP in what has become "common" (for lack of a better word) access to once super-secret stuff -- namely, satellite surveilance and information/intelligence distribution!

THink about it, Google Earth takes pictures using an OLD "Keyhole" satellite -- the U.S. military's former TOP "spy bird." Now it's in the hands of a commercial entity such as Google. And, as commentator rmberryman said, the (Google Earth) photos show amazing amounts of details! (I found my own home on Google Earth too, and guess the photo was taken about 10 years ago, when I was doing construction on my house!)

This kind of technology in "commercial" hands is impressive. But, as we've been hearing of late, it raises MANY issues.

Privacy, "intelligence" and "counter-intelligence (along the lines of helping "bad guys" scope out potential targets or, as the case with the Chinese sub, make it harder for nations to "keep secrets"), freedom of information, etc.

Also, you gotta stop and wonder... If this kind of detailed imagery is what "declassified," former military-grade "Keyhole" satellites are capable of.... Can you just IMAGINE what CURRENT generation, still-classified and under military- government-control, "spy satellites" are capable of TODAY?

I find it hard to believe that China does not know when our or commercial satelites are passing over their country. Me being former military know first hand that our military was aware of SATTRAN hours during the day. This is when the Russian satilites were passing over our base. During this time we would not conduct any movement or manuevers. So I find it hard to believe that they (China) were unaware of the satilite. Especially Google Earth. Either they (China) wants us to see this or it is a farce from our press to make sure that we still have a bad guy on our list to always keep us on our toes.

The Chinese are slowing but surely trying to overtake us. Look at all the recalls from products that are made in China. Dog food, catfish, and even toys.

It's interesting to read into all this from an outsider. Thoses that figure the US has enough stopping power would be correct from the nuke stand point, however the one poster above is correct if the USA took action against china via nukes they would find most likley an equal attack on US soil. such a war would leave both thoses contries in chaos and destroyed. As for troops and the likes China does have a larger army and bring the worlds largest exporter it would not cross my mind that they would be better equipped. Most our world reasources are exported there which gives them the campacity to expand rather quickly if they have not already done so. The other issue as mentioned above is that the USA has been putting itself into a bad position with the rest of the world and alot of doors are getting closed because of what the govement there is doing. Unless the US pulls itself back together things there will get worse and freedom will be limited. Look at it now, with all the security and issues you can not go anywhere with out them knowing, your privacy is owned by your goverment. Whats next chips for all of you? or people watching people... starting to sound like the interests of the US are not of the people but of the people running the people :)

These are just my thoughts from outside the box.

Yep, Google Earth is using some older satellite imagery. I should hope the government's info is better. But, you never know. If someone would have told me six years ago that we lacked the technological prowess and capability to find Osama Bin Laden, I never would have believed them.

China would not dare confront the Western World militarily at this time and not with the current military armmament in their inventory which are still rudimentary by Western standards. Yet China, I think, has the capacity, the desire and the will to dominate the world in some other ways --- the economy as a start, population next and technology last. They have already started and found some success in phase 1. The Chinese are pragmatic, they are here for the long haul. Keep an eye out for the next two as the gears are already turning!

Unbelievable how many crazy warmongers are out there. No surprise thagt China is building ONE sub to counter our thousands of nukes and our 10:1 military spending advantage. I'd be worried about our empire building if I were them, too

Interesting technology.....

Right way to look at China and Russia:

Russia is an economic "competitor" and not a military competitor. Look at sales to Iran/Iraq pre-war and Putin pushing Russian radar for the missile defense of Europe.

China is a "supplier" to the US (their largest customer) and as such China would fall apart economically if a war developed. They are taking the US product quality rejections very seriously with some of the guilty getting "death" sentences.

Both of these economic relationships are healthy and are benefits of globalization.

Can you blame them? After all we believe in "pre-emptive" strikes based on bad intelligence. Our president is an idiot and a liar and cannot be trusted to even protect our own CIA agents.
How many subs do we have that will do the same thing? In a way maybe they feel like this is sort of their version of the second amendment.

The other thing that no one has mentioned is that China holds a huge amount of our notes. We have borrowed heavily for the debacle in Iraq, and it has been largely from China.

China does not have to attack the US - they ALREADY OWN US economically.

And for all those smokestack chasers who want to put manufacturing back in America... Sorry folks, the genie is out of the bottle, and it isn't ever going to go back in. We have to live with the situation and figure out how to make it work for ALL of us, and not just the top 1% as it does now.

China could never stand a chance in an armed conflict with the United States, huh? Ever read "Sixth Column"?

em...I`m chinese...I think China won`t fight with America because everyone loves peace.We don`t expect another Iraq.And the ruthless of the war is so terrible...So,try your best to make the peace...thanks.

Before the panic continues...does anyone know the date of the photo? Many Satellite images are years old...

Well, American Govt. is so dreadful of and nervous about any insignificantly apparent "threats". I think it's time for American Govt. to calm their minds and rethink what they really should do internally to pacify their people, instead of bring them terrorists and so-called freedom, because let history be our guide - "Those who live by the sword die by the sword". Where is America's religion - In God We trust? I'm wondering by what you people live. God bless America!!!

If we ever had to go to war with China, we would also be at war with North Korea as well and maybe even Russia. we would destry one another.

Note from Ned--

In answer to the question from Shel and others, we're told the image is from late last year. See more detail in Hans Kristensen's blog, to which I linked above. Thanks.

I do not believe that we would ever have a war with China. I do not see how they are an enemy, I do not see how anyone else would see them as an enemy and I do not think they view the US as an enemy. However with the current occupants of the White House and with the very paranoid and nationalistic American Neo-con movement being what it is I can not blame them for creating a strong military. Do people think that for some reason only the US is entitled to have a powerful military? And that other nations should just submit to the US and not develop the means to defend their sovereignty? Why should China having a strong military be a threat to the US?