Major Setback for China: New Nuclear Attack Submarine Sinks During Construction

WASHINGTON - In a surprising turn of events, satellite imagery revealed that China’s latest nuclear-powered attack submarine, designated as the Zhou-class, sank while still under construction at a dock. This revelation came from a senior U.S. defense official on Thursday, highlighting a significant setback for China's ambitions to expand its vast naval fleet.

China’s navy has been undergoing rapid development, positioning itself as the largest in the world as it aggressively vies for territorial claims, particularly in the South China Sea—an area deemed vital for global trade routes. These increasing tensions are compounded by ongoing disputes with neighboring nations such as Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, making this incident particularly impactful on regional stability.

The U.S. has actively enhanced its partnerships with these countries and routinely engages in naval operations within these contested waters to uphold what it calls the 'freedom of navigation.' Such actions have consistently infuriated Beijing, as tensions continue to simmer.

The U.S. official indicated that the submarine likely sank between May and June, as satellite imagery from that timeframe captured the necessary cranes positioned nearby, presumably for recovery efforts. The precise location of the sunken submarine, however, remains undisclosed.

In light of this incident, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry refrained from commenting on the matter, stating they were unfamiliar with the situation. The official underscored that it was 'not surprising' for the Chinese navy to keep details about the incident under wraps, further complicating transparency surrounding the mishap.

Notably, the first report of the sunken vessel was made by The Wall Street Journal, with former U.S. Navy submariner Thomas Shugart highlighting the issue in July. This wasn't publicly connected to the Zhou-class submarine until now.

Recent satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC show the submarine at the Shuangliu shipyard on the Yangtze River prior to its sinking. An image dated June 15 appeared to depict the submarine as partially submerged, with cranes and rescue apparatus in the vicinity. Additional observations indicated this site still hosted a submarine by August 25, although it's uncertain if it was the same vessel.

While it is still undetermined whether the submarine was equipped with nuclear fuel or if its reactor was operational at the time of the incident, officials confirmed there has been no reported radiation release in the surrounding area since the sinking. For context, a U.S. military report from last year stated that China operated six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines.

This incident coincides with China’s rare test of an intercontinental ballistic missile launched into international waters in the Pacific—a move noted as unprecedented since 1980, further underscoring the intensifying military developments within the region.

Stay tuned as we follow this evolving story that has significant implications for regional security and the balance of power in the waters of East Asia.