A new nuclear-powered attack submarine built by China sank earlier this year, a senior U.S. defense official claimed on Thursday. The U.S. official said it was an embarrassment for Beijing, which wants to expand its military capabilities. China already has the world’s largest navy, with more than 370 ships, and has begun producing a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines.
China’s new first-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank between May and June, a senior U.S. defense official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment, saying there was no information to share. “We are not familiar with the situation you describe and we have no information to provide at this time,” the Chinese official said.
Raising serious doubts about the quality of Chinese equipment
The U.S. official said it was unclear what caused it to sink or whether it was carrying nuclear fuel at the time. “In addition to raising questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about accountability within the PLA and oversight of China’s defense industry, which has long been plagued by corruption,” the official said. “It’s not surprising that the Chinese navy is trying to conceal the sinking of a nuclear submarine. This news was first published by the Wall Street Journal.
Planetary Laboratory satellite photos revealed
Planet Labs released a series of satellite photos taken in June showing cranes at the Wuchang Shipyard in China. The sunken nuclear submarine is believed to be anchored at this shipyard. A Pentagon report from the U.S. Department of Defense stated that by 2022, China will have 6 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines. China is developing a plan to increase its number of submarines to 65 by 2025 and 80 by 2035.
China tests intercontinental missile
Meanwhile, China said on Wednesday it had successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Pacific. After this test, international concerns about China’s nuclear capabilities are likely to increase. Earlier this month, the United States and China held their first theater-level commanders’ talks in an effort to stabilize military relations and avoid misunderstandings, especially on regional hot-button issues such as the South China Sea.
