China has been operating more submarines -- many "fairly" amazing -- and has deployed more of the undersea maritime vessels than the U.S., a top Navy official told a Congressional committee on Wednesday.

U.S. Navy deputy chief of naval operations, Vice Admiral Joseph Mulloy, said before the House Armed Services Committee that China had been operating more nuclear- and diesel-powered submarines although they are of inferior quality than their American counterparts.

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Mulloy said the class of China's submarines was inferior to those built in the U.S. but the number of vessels in its undersea fleet had far exceeded that of America. A Navy spokeswoman said the U.S. have in operation at least 71 commissioned submarines.

Defense suppliers General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries are the top two builders of U.S. submarines.

Mulloy also told the Congressional seapower subcommittee that China was branching out into more geographic points for its submarine operation and raised the period of deployment.

To drive home his point, Mulloy said China had sent out three deployments to the Indian Ocean and had operated submarines out at sea for more than three months.

The Navy admiral added intelligence reports showed China is "out experimenting" with submarine deployment and operations and Beijing clearly seeks to be part of the league of hi-tech submarines.

In the past couple of months, U.S. military top brass have been open about worries over China's military expansion. They are pushing for measures to make sure that U.S. military know-how stays well ahead of swift advances by Russia and China.

In its last yearly report to Congress about China's security and military developments, the Pentagon said China had 55 medium and large amphibious ships; more than 60 submarines; around 85 missile-equipped small combatants; and 77 principal surface attack ships.

Mulloy did not disclose details about exactly how many surface ships are now being operated by China.

He said the Pentagon doubted China armed its submarines with nuclear missiles, but that Beijing had been making missiles and perfecting them. 

TagsChina Submarines, China Navy