A new Chinese nuclear-powered submarine has sunk, reports the Wall Street Journal, citing a US Department of Defense official. It is unclear why the ship sank or whether it had nuclear fuel on board. “It's not surprising that the Chinese navy is trying to cover it up,” the official said.
An official who wished to remain anonymous Pentagon reported that the new Chinese submarine sank between May and June. It is unclear what caused the sinking or whether it had nuclear fuel on board at the time.
In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, this incident raises questions about internal accountability and oversight of China's defense industry, which has long struggled with corruption. Not surprisingly, the Navy China is trying to hide the sinking – said the official in an interview with the daily.
A series of satellite images from the global Planet Labs network from June appear to show cranes at the Wuchang shipyard, where the submarine may have been moored.
Reuters reports that a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington said he had “nothing to say.”
Cranes at the Wuchang shipyard, where the submarine was supposed to bePlanet Labs/Reuters
China is increasing its military capabilities
China, which already has the largest navy in the world with over 370 ships, has started producing a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines, writes Reuters. The sinking of the ship may be a big problem for Beijing, which is trying to increase its military capabilities, says “WSJ”.
According to the Pentagon report, in 2022, China had six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines. Beijing's submarine fleet is expected to grow to 65 by 2025 and 80 by 2035.
Main photo source: Planet Labs/Reuters