With tensions escalating among world powers, there’s a rising concern about the increasing collaboration between Russia and China, particularly aimed at undermining U.S. military capabilities. Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery expressed that Russia may be sharing technology with China to make its submarines harder to detect by the U.S. Navy, which could significantly alter the balance of power, especially regarding the Taiwan situation.
Montgomery noted, “Russia is supplying crucial technology to China. Reports suggest they are helping with submarine quieting technology,” which he discusses in his co-authored book “Axis of Aggressors.” He highlighted that this development could erode the U.S.’s critical advantage in undersea warfare.
The U.S. Navy emphasizes its reliance on stealth and technological edge to maintain dominance below the waves. Meanwhile, despite rapid advancements, China still faces challenges in submarine propulsion and noise reduction. The technology from Russia could help Beijing close this gap, complicating the U.S. Navy’s ability to track Chinese submarines should tensions over Taiwan escalate.
In a response to inquiries, the Chinese embassy didn’t directly confirm whether it had received submarine silencing technology from Russia. However, it stated that military cooperation adheres to principles aimed at maintaining sovereignty and peace, urging others to view this cooperation without bias or speculation.
Montgomery’s concerns are echoed by Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who testified about China’s acquisition of submarine support from Russia. He described the relationship as a “transactional symbiosis,” with the two nations increasingly filling each other’s military gaps.
Further warnings came from Paparo, who indicated that China’s support for Russia’s military, including essential tools and technology, reflects a deeper partnership that could jeopardize U.S. interests and those of its allies.
As the conflict in Ukraine stretches into its fifth year, Russia’s reliance on Chinese support grows, while offering battlefield insights and technology of potential use to China in any Taiwan scenario. For the U.S., the stakes are particularly high; quiet Chinese submarines could seriously challenge U.S. underwater operations in any future conflict.
Montgomery concluded by emphasizing that the development signals a larger trend of collaboration among adversaries, creating complex challenges for the United States in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Russian Embassy for further comments, while U.S. Pacific Command chose not to respond.
