The Harris Hole
2024-09-27 18:03:49 UTC
WASHINGTON (AP) — Satellite imagery showed that China’s newest
nuclear-powered attack submarine sank alongside a pier while under
construction, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday.
The sinking of China’s first Zhou-class submarine represents a setback
for Beijing as it continues to build out the world’s largest navy.
Beijing has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to
virtually the entire South China Sea, which is crucial to international
trade.
Meanwhile, China faces longtime territorial disputes involving others in
the region including Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and
Vietnam. The United States has sought to strengthen ties to its allies
in the region and regularly sails through those waters in operations it
says maintains the freedom of navigation for vessels there, angering
Beijing.
The submarine likely sank between May and June, when satellite images
showed cranes that would be necessary to lift it off the bottom of the
river, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide
details about the submarine loss.
China has been building up its naval fleet at a breakneck pace, and the
U.S. considers China’s rise one of its main future security concerns.
https://apnews.com/article/china-nuclear-submarine-sank-us-military-3c68bba0882fe81b3ace6da6c39e771b
nuclear-powered attack submarine sank alongside a pier while under
construction, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday.
The sinking of China’s first Zhou-class submarine represents a setback
for Beijing as it continues to build out the world’s largest navy.
Beijing has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to
virtually the entire South China Sea, which is crucial to international
trade.
Meanwhile, China faces longtime territorial disputes involving others in
the region including Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and
Vietnam. The United States has sought to strengthen ties to its allies
in the region and regularly sails through those waters in operations it
says maintains the freedom of navigation for vessels there, angering
Beijing.
The submarine likely sank between May and June, when satellite images
showed cranes that would be necessary to lift it off the bottom of the
river, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide
details about the submarine loss.
China has been building up its naval fleet at a breakneck pace, and the
U.S. considers China’s rise one of its main future security concerns.
https://apnews.com/article/china-nuclear-submarine-sank-us-military-3c68bba0882fe81b3ace6da6c39e771b