The Chinese government reportedly covered up the sinking of a state-of-the-art nuclear-powered submarine while tied to a pier, which U.S. officials say is not surprising.
“It is not surprising that the People's Liberation Army Navy would try to cover up the fact that a new nuclear-powered attack submarine sank near the pier,” said a senior US defense official. “In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and the quality of equipment, this incident also raises deep questions about the PLA's internal accountability and oversight of China's defense industry, which has long been plagued by corruption.”
China's first Zhou-class submarine likely sank between May and June, the Associated Press reported, based on information from officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Satellite images showed the crane needed to pull the ship from the riverbed in place.
The incident reportedly prompted Chinese authorities to rush to cover up the matter, which had not previously been made public.
Pentagon pays attention to new role for China's nuclear submarines
Visitors walk on the deck of a decommissioned submarine at the People's Liberation Army Navy Museum in Qingdao, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
China has previously said it is building a world-class military to deter aggression and protect overseas interests.
Last year, the Pentagon announced that a little-known report had found that the Chinese military had adopted a policy of keeping at least one nuclear-powered submarine at sea at all times.
China maintains a fleet of six nuclear-powered submarines, each carrying missiles that could attack the U.S. mainland from the South China Sea.
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China has adopted a policy of keeping at least one nuclear-powered submarine at sea at all times, straining U.S. resources. (Dana Jensen/The Day via AP, File)
The report on China's new submarine activities comes just as the US, UK and Australia signed an agreement to build and sell nuclear attack submarines. Australia was also expected to purchase these vessels to modernize its fleet.
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These attack submarines are prime candidates for tracking missile submarines like those deployed by China, and improved Australian capabilities would relieve some of the pressure on U.S. and British forces in the region. .
Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom and Reuters contributed to this report.
