New conventional sub appears to include vertical launch system and is built for unique demands of Taiwan Strait and South China Sea A new submarine commissioned by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy enters operation at an undisclosed date. The submarine has been dubbed the Type 039C by overseas media. Photo: Screenshot from the official Weibo account of the PLA Navy. (Written by Gabriel Honrada . Published here in Asia Times , republished with permission.) China’s stealthy launch