A U.S. official has said a key Chinese nuclear submarine sank earlier this year.
At a Glance
- The incident involved China’s newest nuclear-powered attack submarine.
- Satellite images indicated recovery operations in June.
- Beijing has not confirmed or denied the submarine’s loss.
- The submarine sinking is a potential setback for China’s naval ambitions.
China’s Submarine Incident
An unidentified U.S. official has said that China lost one of its newest nuclear-powered attack submarines at a shipyard between May and June. The submarine reportedly sank at the Wuhan shipyard and was later subjected to salvage operations, as indicated by satellite images.
Satellite images from late May and early June depicted floating salvage cranes and significant activity at the site where the submarine had previously been berthed. Additionally, a US defense official suggested that China would likely conceal the incident, a notion consistent with the observed actions and lack of official confirmation from Beijing.
Questions Surrounding the Incident
The Chinese government has remained silent about the underwater mishap. Beijing has neither confirmed nor refuted the reports of the submarine sinking. Furthermore, it remains unclear if the submarine was carrying nuclear fuel at the time of the incident, raising questions about potential environmental hazards.
Reports suggest that Taiwan conducted its own investigation into the submarine’s fate but declined to provide specific details. The identification of the sunken nuclear submarine was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Implications for China’s Naval Ambitions
This incident is viewed as a major setback for China’s naval expansion ambitions. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy operates 12 nuclear-powered and 48 diesel-electric submarines, with plans to expand its submarine force significantly. The sinking of its new Type 041 Zhou-class submarine, featuring advanced stealth capabilities, represents an embarrassing loss for China.
Thomas Shugart, a former US Navy submariner, noted the incident would be an embarrassment for the PLA navy but posed a low safety risk. Despite this, it underscores the broader concerns of corruption within China’s defense industry and intensifies the scrutiny of China’s naval capabilities.
Sources
- China Lost Nuclear Attack Submarine in Sinking: Report
- China nuclear sub sank in its dock, US officials say
- New Chinese nuclear attack submarine sank during construction, US defense official says
