CNN —China’s newest nuclear-powered submarine sank pierside in the spring and the Chinese Navy tried to conceal the loss, according to two US defense officials.
The attack submarine was the first of its new Zhou-class line of vessels, the official said, under construction at a shipyard near the city of Wuhan.
“It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside,” said the senior US defense official.
According to the latest China military power report from 2023, the PLA Navy operates six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, six nuclear-powered attack submarines, and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines.
The PLA Navy has 370 platforms, which includes 234 warships, according to CRS, while the US has 219 warships.
Persons:
The Zhou, Zhou, It’s, ”, Tom Shugart, “ I’ve, ” Shugart, Shugart
Organizations:
CNN, Chinese Navy, Maxar Technologies, PLA Navy, Center, New, New American Security, People’s Liberation Army, PLA ) Navy, US Navy, Street Journal, Congressional Research Service, Navy, CRS
Locations:
Wuhan, The, New American, Beijing, United States, China, Washington ,