China, Sept 26 (Alliance News) – China’s latest nuclear-powered submarine, part of the new Zhou-class line, sank pierside earlier this year, according to US defense officials.
The Chinese Navy has since attempted to conceal the loss of the submarine, which features a distinctive X-shaped stern for enhanced maneuverability.
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies show the submarine docked at a shipyard near Wuhan in March. However, later imagery from June revealed its absence from the pier, raising suspicions.
US defense experts and analysts, including Tom Shugart from the Center for a New American Security, noticed unusual activity at the site, suggesting that the submarine had sunk during construction or testing.
The Zhou-class submarine is a key part of China’s modernization efforts, with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) prioritizing upgrades to its submarine force.
The incident raises concerns about the PLA’s internal accountability and the oversight of China’s defense industry, which has a history of corruption.
It remains unclear whether the submarine had been fueled with nuclear materials at the time of the sinking. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, DC, declined to comment on the situation.
China is rapidly expanding its naval capabilities, with plans to increase its submarine fleet to 80 by 2035, even as older vessels are retired.
The country currently has the world’s largest navy by number of ships, including 234 warships. The US, which views China as its “long-term pacing challenge,” operates 219 warships.
