China covered up sinking of newest submarine, says US official
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
China is seeking to modernise its navy – the largest in the world, but which includes many smaller warships such as frigates and corvettes.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON – China sought to cover up the sinking of its newest nuclear-powered submarine, a senior US defence official said on Sept 26.
The sinking at a shipyard earlier in 2024 was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which also said that satellite imagery later showed large floating cranes arriving to salvage it.
“It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that its new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pier-side,” the senior US defence official said on condition of anonymity, referring to Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army Navy.
“In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLA’s internal accountability and oversight of China’s defence industry – which has long been plagued by corruption,” the official said.
The incident is a setback for China, which is seeking to modernise its navy – the largest in the world, but which includes many smaller warships such as frigates and corvettes.
The United States and Britain are, meanwhile, working to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, a move that will expand the pool of countries with the advanced undersea vessels.
Beijing has been critical of the effort, which also envisages jointly developing advanced warfighting capabilities and is seen as a strategic answer to Chinese military ambitions in the Pacific region. AFP
