Chinese Nuclear Submarine Sinks at Wuhan Shipyard Amid Expansion Efforts, U.S. Sources Report
Posted on Sep 30, 2024 at 06:09 PM
US security sources report that early this year, a Chinese nuclear-powered assault submarine that was under construction drowned in its port, representing a significant defeat for the Chinese military.
Further, the US authorities stated that the submarine's loss most likely occurred in May or June, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Satellite shots from June revealed what look to be floating salvage cranes at the berth in Wuhan where the vessel was sighted a month earlier.
China's Massive Submarine Expansion Plans
The Pentagon says China’s navy, the world’s largest with over 370 ships, aims to expand its submarine fleet to 65 by 2025 and 80 by 2035. The Zhou-class, a new class of nuclear-armed submarines, is being produced, the first of which was this one.
Meanwhile, Beijing hasn't verified the claims. US sources said it was “not surprising” that the Chinese military would cover up the loss of one of its most recent assets.
Commercial satellite images from the Wuhan shipyard reveal multiple crane barges near a berth, while previous images from March and May showed a single vessel docked at the same berth, raising concerns about the submarine's nuclear fuel-carrying capabilities.
Inadequate Grasp of Images
It is challenging to determine whether the two earlier incidents are related in any way and, more importantly, whether the photographs truly depict a particular submarine berthed due to their rather low quality.
These images were shown to Mike Plunkett, a naval expert from Janes, who agreed they offered limited insight. He explained that imagery seen on 29 May “might show a submarine with an X-shaped rudder arrangement”.
Additionally, the pontoon's type is not confirmed as a Type 041, as it could also be a modified Type 039. It's likely to be alongside a submarine, as China has a major production facility for conventional submarines at Wuhan.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied knowledge of an alleged corruption scandal in the defence industry, stating he was not familiar with the matter.
Besides, Taiwan has confirmed conducting independent investigations into the submarine's location and using multiple intelligence and surveillance methods but has not provided further information.
US Navy Submariner's Analysis
An analyst at the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS) and a former US Navy submariner, Thomas Shugart, first became aware of the submarine event in July.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy would face “pretty significant embarrassment” as a result of the sinking, he stated, but the safety risk was likely “pretty low.”
Moreover, he believes that if the ship is repaired, it will be a more capable submarine than the previous one built at the shipyard, and it won't significantly alter the PLA Navy's impressive upward trajectory.
Beijing has been asserting its claim to almost the whole South China Sea, which is vital to global trade, more and more aggressively at the moment of the sinking. It has protracted maritime disagreements with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and other countries in the region.
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