In a significant blow to China’s ambitious naval expansion plans, a newly built nuclear-powered attack submarine, identified as a Zhou-class vessel with a distinctive X-shaped stern, reportedly sank at a shipyard near Wuhan between May and June of this year. The incident, first revealed by The Wall Street Journal, comes at a time when China is actively expanding its military capabilities, particularly its fleet of nuclear submarines.
Satellite imagery collected in late May showed the submarine docked at a pier on the Yangtze River, undergoing final preparations before its maiden voyage. However, later imagery taken in June revealed the vessel’s disappearance from the pier.
Further analysis of the satellite photos revealed the presence of large floating cranes arriving at the shipyard in early June, seemingly attempting to salvage the submarine from the riverbed.
The Chinese government, in an apparent attempt to conceal the incident, has remained tight-lipped about the sinking. However, Thomas Shugart, a former US submarine officer and senior fellow at the Centre for a New American Security, first noticed the unusual activity at the shipyard, recognizing it as a potential salvage operation.
Shugart’s observations have raised concerns about China’s internal accountability and oversight of its defense industry. A senior US defense official, quoted in the WSJ report, expressed serious doubts about the lack of transparency and potential cover-up surrounding the sinking.
The incident has also raised questions about the potential for a nuclear leak, given the submarine’s nuclear reactor. However, US officials haven’t detected any evidence of radiation release. While the risk of a leak was likely low as the reactor was not operating at full power, experts are still evaluating the potential environmental impact.
The sinking is likely to significantly impact China’s plans for expanding its nuclear submarine fleet. Brent Sadler, a retired US Navy nuclear submarine officer and senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, believes the incident will slow down China’s efforts to build a more formidable submarine force.
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Chinese embassy in Washington, DC, claimed to be “not familiar with the situation” and had no information to provide.
The incident highlights the challenges China faces in achieving its ambitious military modernization goals. The sinking of this new nuclear-powered attack submarine, along with the apparent cover-up, raises serious concerns about the quality control and safety standards within China’s defense industry. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential vulnerabilities and risks associated with rapidly expanding military capabilities.
