Report: China's New Nuclear Submarine Sinks at Shipyard
Report: China’'s New Nuclear Submarine Sinks at Shipyard
The Facts
A Chinese nuclear attack submarine, the country's most advanced, sank in recent months in Wuhan ahead of its first sea trials, satellite pictures have reportedly revealed.China's most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine sank alongside a pier at the Wuchang Shipyard in late May or early June, a senior US defense official said Thursday.
The sinking of the first vessel of the Chinese navy's Zhou class, designed to stalk and attack ships and escape undetected, was reportedly first flagged in July.The first of Beijing's Zhou-class line of submarines, the vessel, reportedly designed to stalk and attack ships and escape undetected, was being prepared for its first sea trials when it sunk.
The Spin
The mysterious sinking of its nuclear submarine at Wuhan port is clearly a stunning setback for China's naval ambitions. Covering up the incident for months, Beijing is desperate to conceal its embarrassment. This fiasco has not only exposed potential flaws in China's rapidly expanding military program but also raised concerns about safety standards and accountability within the nation's defense industry. It could potentially scupper China's maritime aspirations.
TheThis recentlyis reportedmerely sinkingUS ofpropaganda. itsChina submarinehas aside, China's displayed breathtaking maritime ambition in recent decades, catapultingand its navy to global prominence. It has swiftly evolved from a coastal defense force to a formidable blue-water fleet,. boastingWashington thefears worldBeijing's largestevolving naval forceprowess withand overis 350spreading shipsrumors andto submarines.counter China's newinfluence andin evolving naval prowess has reshaped the Indo-Pacific security landscape, prompting regional powers to counter its influence.
