Over the past few decades, China has transformed Hainan Island — often called the "Hawaii of China" — into a fortified military hub, investing more than $50 billion in its infrastructure.
Military Installations Next to Vacation Spots
Comparable in size to Taiwan, Hainan has become one of China’s most militarized regions, serving as a launch point for operations in the contested waters of the South China Sea, according to Digi24.
The island, known for its palm-lined beaches and tourist resorts, now hosts military installations just steps from vacation hotspots.
One of the largest is the Longpo (Yulin-East) Naval Base, a complex that holds destroyers and nuclear-armed submarines just 500 feet from a major tourist destination.
With deep tunnels and caves built into Hainan’s terrain, China has created secure hiding spots for submarines, shielded from spy satellites and equipped to support Beijing’s regional power projection.
On Par With Pearl Harbor
Experts suggest that China’s militarization of Hainan serves multiple purposes: extending military influence globally, securing critical shipping routes, accessing natural resources, and potentially countering U.S. forces in the event of a Taiwan conflict.
Beijing’s investment in advanced infrastructure, including demagnetization facilities to make vessels harder to detect and missile bases equipped with “carrier-killer” DF-21D ballistic missiles, strengthens its strategic reach.
Hainan’s Yulin Naval Base, with an estimated $18 billion value, is on par with the U.S. military’s Pacific facilities, such as Pearl Harbor.
Nearby, China’s Wenchang Space Launch Site — referred to as the "21st-century portal to space" — supports both satellite missions and Beijing’s plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.
