China's Unconventional Naval Warfare Capabilities are Evolving

China’s naval strategy is increasingly emphasizing “unconventional” tools built around the undersea domain, according to an analysis of how Beijing’s maritime approach has evolved since the Cold War. The article argues that China’s military-civil fusion relies on dual-use infrastructure—research vessels, cargo fleets, fishing boats, and autonomous drones—that may not look like an immediate wartime threat but can become more consequential over time. It highlights the Type 095, dubbed a “sail-less” submarine, noting two parallel hull developments at China’s Bohai and Jiangnan shipyards in February and June 2026. The design aims to reduce noise to evade acoustic systems used by the U.S. and Japan’s “Fish Hook.”