China has faced a significant naval embarrassment as its newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, and despite efforts to conceal the incident, satellite images have revealed the truth. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, the Zhou-class submarine sank at a shipyard near Wuhan in either May or June, although the Chinese government has remained silent on the matter. The vessel was the first of its kind, making the loss particularly damaging to China’s naval ambitions.
The incident first caught the attention of former U.S. submarine officer Thomas Shugart, who noted something unusual in satellite imagery from the Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, China’s main site for non-nuclear submarine construction. On July 16, Shugart shared his findings on social media, where he highlighted suspicious activity around the shipyard. His posts included images from May 29, which initially showed nothing out of the ordinary, with a new Yuan-class submarine in the typical spot for fitting out newly launched vessels.
However, by mid-June, updated satellite imagery showed crane barges gathered around the area where the submarine had been, along with what appeared to be a “submarine-sized” object being worked on by the cranes. This suggested that the Chinese were attempting to raise or recover the sunken vessel.
Shugart’s discovery has drawn attention to the severity of the situation. While it appears that the submarine has been raised, experts, including Shugart, have emphasized that the vessel is far from operational. A sunken submarine would need extensive repairs, including the replacement of electronics, electric motors, and the cleaning out of water-damaged areas.
Further complicating the issue is the possibility that the submarine had nuclear fuel on board when it sank, though this remains unconfirmed. If true, the implications of a nuclear-powered submarine sinking could pose environmental risks and raise concerns about China’s handling of its naval assets.
The loss of the Zhou-class submarine represents a major setback for the Chinese navy, which is viewed as a critical element in any future conflict over Taiwan. The island, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province, has long been a source of tension between China and the United States, which has pledged support to Taiwan in the event of a military conflict.
While the cause of the sinking remains unknown, the incident has raised questions about the reliability of China’s naval fleet. Whether due to human error or a technical flaw, the sinking of such an advanced submarine highlights vulnerabilities in China’s military capabilities.
The Chinese government’s continued silence on the matter suggests a desire to avoid public acknowledgment of the failure, especially as the country seeks to bolster its naval power in the region. However, with satellite imagery exposing the truth, the incident has become yet another example of China’s struggles to maintain its image as a dominant global force.
