Recommendation 158

China is rapidly developing its nuclear potential. The Arctic Ocean represents the shortest missile flight trajectory as well as submarine passage between China and North America. 183 Dr Ash told us that by deploying ballistic missile submarines in the Arctic, China could enlarge the number of targets it could hit and could use the Arctic environment to compensate for the relatively high noise signature of its Type 094 submarines. 184 Mr Lapsley suggested China could at some point seek to follow Russia in using the Arctic as a bastion for its nuclear forces, although there is currently no evidence that this has taken place. 185 Cornell Overfield and Dr Joshua Tallis told us that defence strategists affiliated with the Chinese military have stressed the Arctic’s value as a haven for submarines. 186