US President Donald Trump’s landmark visit to China comes as the Iran war disrupts global energy supplies, fuels economic uncertainty and adds fresh strain to Washington-Beijing ties. In the latest part of a series examining how rivalry, interdependence and geopolitical crises are reshaping the relationship between the two powers, we look at their make-or-break contest unfolding beneath the ocean surface.Last year’s military blockbuster Operation Hadal was China’s first high-budget film to centre on nuclear submarine warfare.While reviews were mixed, the production was a clear projection of Chinese naval ambitions – mirroring the heightened real-world rivalry under the sea, the site of a high-stakes race for military dominance and deep-sea riches.
SRCSouth China Morning Post
LANGEN
LEANCenter-Right
WORDS110
ENT5
FRI · 2026-05-08 · 22:00 GMTBRIEF NSR-2026-0509-74794
NSR-2026-0509-74794Analysis·EN·National Security
Latest US-China rivalry combines undersea dominance with a race to riches
The US and China are engaged in a growing rivalry that extends to undersea dominance and resource acquisition. This intensified competition is highlighted by China's recent military-themed film, "Operation Hadal," which showcased its naval ambitions.
Alyssa ChenSouth China Morning PostFiled 2026-05-08 · 22:00 GMTLean · Center-RightRead · 1 min
South China Morning PostFIG 01
Reading time
1min
Word count
110words
Sources cited
0cited
Entities identified
5entities
Quality score
100%
§ 01
Briefing Summary
AI-generatedNEWSAR · AI
The US and China are engaged in a growing rivalry that extends to undersea dominance and resource acquisition. This intensified competition is highlighted by China's recent military-themed film, "Operation Hadal," which showcased its naval ambitions. The article posits this reflects a real-world contest for control of the ocean floor, driven by both strategic military positioning and the pursuit of deep-sea riches. This dynamic is unfolding against a backdrop of global energy supply disruptions and economic uncertainty, further straining US-China relations, particularly during President Trump's visit to China. The undersea rivalry is presented as a critical element shaping the future relationship between the two global powers.
Confidence 0.85Claims 3Entities 5
§ 02
Article analysis
Model · rule-basedFraming
National Security
Economic Impact
Tone
Mixed Tone
AI-assessed
CalmNeutralAlarmist
Factuality
0.60 / 1.00
Mixed
LowHigh
Sources cited
0
No named sources
FewMany
§ 03
Key claims
3 extracted01
There is a high-stakes race between the US and China for military dominance and deep-sea riches beneath the ocean surface.
factual
Confidence
0.90
02
US President Donald Trump's visit to China coincides with the Iran war disrupting global energy supplies and straining US-China ties.
factual
Confidence
0.90
03
China's film 'Operation Hadal' was a projection of Chinese naval ambitions.
factual
Confidence
0.80
§ 04
Full report
1 min read · 110 words§ 05
Entities
5 identified§ 06
Keywords & salience
8 termsus-china rivalry
1.00
undersea dominance
0.90
naval ambitions
0.80
nuclear submarine warfare
0.70
deep-sea riches
0.60
economic uncertainty
0.50
global energy supplies
0.50
geopolitical crises
0.40
§ 07
Topic connections
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