A recently unveiled trimaran-hulled submersible vessel at Guangzhou Shipyard has raised alarms regarding China’s evolving naval capabilities. This 210-foot craft exhibits features that suggest hybrid functionality between surface and submerged operations, potentially enhancing stealth and operational versatility for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The vessel’s appearance, with depth markings and a likely pump-jet propulsor, exemplifies China’s innovative approach amid its naval expansion, posing a strategic challenge to India. Such advancements complicate the Indian Navy’s surveillance and anti-submarine warfare efforts in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, directly threatening vital sea lanes crucial for India’s energy security and trade, thereby intensifying regional maritime balances.