On the satellite photos show cranes during a rescue operation in a Chinese port. According to US government sources, a Chinese nuclear submarine sank there. What else is known?
According to sources from American government circles, a nuclear submarine of the latest generation sank in China in the summer. This happened in May or June on a pier in the port near Wuhan, ARD writes, citing a high-ranking representative of the Pentagon. It is unclear what caused her to sink and whether she was loaded with nuclear fuel.
The incident raises many questions, such as the quality of the equipment, accountability of the Chinese military, oversight of the sector and corruption within it. As the German media further points out, it would not be a surprise if it turns out that the Chinese military tried to cover up the incident.
The submarine was not ready
The incident was first reported by the "Wall Street Journal". The submarine, which was still under construction, can be seen on satellite images from late May at a pier on the Yangtze River. A month later - at the end of June - pictures from Planet Labs PBC show floating cranes already extracting parts of the river bed in the same place.
According to US sources, the boat is the first of a new class of nuclear submarines and is clearly recognizable on satellite images due to its distinctive stern shape. On August 25, there was another submarine in the same place. It is not clear whether this is the same or another submarine.
The Chinese authorities do not comment on the subject. Spokesmen for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Washington have said only that they know nothing about the alleged incident.
The largest fleet in the world
The incident is a bitter blow to the People's Republic, which has made the expansion of its armed forces and its submarine fleet one of its main priorities, recalls the “Wall Street Journal". Even if the submarine was saved, it would be months before it could sail.
According to US Department of Defense estimates, China has the largest navy in the world with over 370 warships and one of the largest military budgets. According to these estimates, in 2022 China had six ballistic missile submarines and six nuclear submarines, as well as 48 others with diesel engines. The US estimates that this fleet will grow to 65 submarines in 2025 and to 80 in 2035.
On Wednesday, China announced that it had successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, ARD also writes.