A senior U.S. defense official revealed that China’s latest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, posing a potential embarrassment for Beijing as it seeks to enhance its military capabilities. China, which boasts the world’s largest navy with over 370 ships, is developing a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines.
The incident occurred between May and June, but the cause of the sinking and whether the submarine contained nuclear fuel at the time remain unclear. The official expressed concerns over the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) training standards and equipment quality, highlighting issues of internal accountability and corruption within China’s defense industry.
China’s embassy in Washington has not commented on the incident, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Satellite images from June suggest activity at the Wuchang shipyard, where the submarine was docked. As of 2022, China had six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines, with plans to increase this force to 65 by 2025 and 80 by 2035.
Additionally, China recently announced a successful intercontinental ballistic missile launch into the Pacific, likely escalating international concerns over its nuclear arsenal. Meanwhile, U.S.-China theater-level commander talks took place earlier this month, aimed at stabilizing military relations and addressing regional tensions, particularly in the South China Sea.
