Chinese nuclear submarine's fate: A setback for Beijing's navy
According to information provided by "The Wall Street Journal," a new Chinese nuclear-powered submarine sank this year, potentially posing a problem for Beijing in the context of increasing its military capabilities.
27 September 2024 09:53
China, which has the largest navy in the world with over 370 ships, has started producing a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines, reports Reuters.
Incident details
A source in the Pentagon, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated that the Chinese submarine sank between May and June. The reasons for the sinking and whether there was nuclear fuel on board remain unclear.
Opinions on the incident
— Besides the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, this incident raises questions about internal accountability and oversight over the Chinese defence industry — which has long struggled with corruption issues. The official commented that it is not surprising that the Chinese navy is trying to conceal the sinking.
Photographic evidence
A series of June satellite images from the global network Planet Labs suggest the presence of cranes at the Wuchang shipyard, where the submarine may have been anchored.
According to Reuters, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington stated that there is no information to share.
The Pentagon's 2022 report indicates that China had six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered submarines.
The forecast is that by 2025 Beijing's submarine fleet will grow to 65, and by 2035 to 80.
