China suffered a major embarrassment as various reports revealed that its newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sunk in port during sea trials even as Beijing is in the process of ramping up its maritime might.
The Zhou class vessel may have sank in May or June and China apparently tried to cover up the incident that happened at Wuchang shipyard near Wuhan.
Satellite imagery showed that the submarine sank alongside a pier while under construction. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC, analysed by The Associated Press, show what appears to be a submarine docked at the Shuangliu shipyard on the Yangtze River before the incident.
An image taken June 15 appears to show the submarine either fully or partially submerged just under the river's surface, with rescue equipment and cranes surrounding it. Booms surround it to prevent any oil or other leaks from the vessel.
A satellite image taken August 25 shows a submarine back at the same dock as the submerged vessel. It is not clear if it was the same one.
A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said said they are not aware of the situation. "We are not familiar with the situation you mentioned and currently have no information to provide," Reuters quoted the Chinese official as saying.
A US official said it was not surprising that China's navy would hide it.
"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 has been quoted as saying.
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Some media reports suggested that the vessel may have been carrying nuclear fuel when it was sunk. The setback comes even as Beijing has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which is crucial to international trade.
As of 2022, China had six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines, a Pentagon report on China's military claimed.
