Chinese nuclear submarine sinks, marking significant embarrassment for Beijing: Report
PTC News Desk: A senior U.S. defense official revealed on Thursday that China’s latest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, presenting a significant embarrassment for Beijing as it aims to bolster its military capabilities. This incident highlights the challenges faced by China, which currently boasts the largest navy globally, with over 370 ships, and is actively developing a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines.
The senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank while docked at a pier sometime between May and June. The cause of the sinking remains unclear, and it is unknown whether the vessel was carrying nuclear fuel at the time.
In response to inquiries about the incident, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington claimed, “We are not familiar with the situation you mentioned and currently have no information to provide.”
The U.S. official raised concerns regarding the implications of the sinking, suggesting that it could indicate serious issues within the People's Liberation Army (PLA), particularly relating to training standards, equipment quality, and accountability within China's defense industry, which has been plagued by corruption. “It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal” the sinking, the official added.
Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo addressed the situation on Friday, stating that Taiwanese authorities “have a grasp of the situation through multiple intelligence and surveillance methods,” but did not offer further details. Taiwan, which China considers a part of its territory, closely monitors Chinese military activities. In June, images circulated online showing a Chinese nuclear submarine surfacing in the Taiwan Strait near local fishermen.
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The news about the Chinese submarine was initially reported by the Wall Street Journal. Satellite images from Planet Labs taken in June indicated crane activity at the Wuchang shipyard, suggesting the submarine may have been docked there prior to the incident.
As of 2022, China's submarine fleet comprised six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines, according to a Pentagon report. The U.S. Defense Department anticipates that this force will grow to 65 submarines by 2025 and reach 80 by 2035.
In a related development, China announced on Wednesday that it successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, a move likely to heighten international concerns regarding the country's nuclear expansion.
Amid these tensions, the United States and China engaged in theater-level commander talks for the first time earlier this month, aiming to stabilize military relations and prevent misunderstandings, particularly in sensitive areas such as the South China Sea.
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- With inputs from agencies
