Report: China's New Nuclear Submarine Sinks at Shipyard
Report: China's New Nuclear Submarine Sinks at Shipyard
The Facts
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 first of Beijing's Zhou-class line of submarines, the vessel was reportedly designed to stalk and attack ships and escape undetected, and was undergoing preparations for its first sea trials at the time of the sinking.
The Spin
The mysterious sinking of a nuclear submarine is a stunning setback for China's naval ambitions. This fiasco has not only exposed potential flaws in China's rapidly expanding military program, but has also raised concerns about safety standards and accountability within the nation's defense industry. This could potentially go as far as to scupper China's maritime aspirations.
These reports are merely US propaganda. China has displayed breathtaking maritime ambition in recent decades, and has swiftly evolved from a coastal defense force to a formidable blue-water fleet. Washington fears Beijing's evolving naval prowess, and is spreading rumors to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific security landscape.
