China’s nuclear submarine sinks, embarrassing the country: report
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Washington: A senior US defence official revealed on Thursday that China’s latest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank sometime between May and June this year, news agency Reuters reported.
The major embarrassment for the Chinese military comes just as the country is showcasing its power, expanding its military capabilities.
With a fleet of over 370 ships, China is reported to be possessing the largest navy in the world even as the country is working to add a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines.
It is reported citing the US defence official that the submarine sank along with a pier.
Responding to the incident a Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington was quoted by Reuters as saying that ‘We are not familiar with the situation you mentioned and currently have no information to provide’.
The US official reportedly said that it was not known what caused the ship to sink and also if the submarine had nuclear fuel on board when it sank.
Mentioning the questions about training standard and equipment quality, the official also said that the incident points at the People's Liberation Army’s ‘internal accountability and oversight of China's defence industry’.
Meanwhile, Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo acknowledged the incident saying that authorities ‘have grasp of the situation’.
It is reported that pictures of a Chinese nuclear, surfacing near Taiwan fishermen in the Taiwan Strait in June, appeared online.
Alongside, Satellite images reportedly showed cranes at the Wuchang shipyard where the submarine may have been docked.
The U.S. Defense Department claimed that as of 2022 China possessed ‘six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines’.
US authorities believe that China’s submarine capabilities could grow to 65 by 2025 and 80 by 2035, making it a stronger force.
China on Wednesday claimed it had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, which raised concerns about the country’s expanding military power.
Earlier this month, the US and China held ‘theater-level commander talks’ to what the report said ‘stabilize military ties and avoid misunderstandings’.