On Hainan Island it has built a new, large naval base with underground submarine pens, which can support both strategic and nuclear-attack submarines.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Enter the dragon

Meanwhile, Russia has sent a naval flotilla of seven warships led by an anti-submarine destroyer to its Syrian base at Tartus, according to Interfax news agency.

BBC: Envoy Kofi Annan presses Iran and Iraq over Syria crisis