China's newest nuclear submarine reportedly sank at dock earlier this year, say U.S. officials.

According to information published by CNN on September 26, 2024, China's latest nuclear-powered submarine, the first of its Zhou-class attack vessels, reportedly sank earlier this year while docked.
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Artist rendering of a Chinese Navy submarine. (Picture source: Generated by AI)

The submarine, under construction at a shipyard near Wuhan, is believed to have gone down in the spring. Chinese authorities have attempted to keep the incident out of public view.

The Zhou-class submarine, distinguished by its unique X-shaped stern designed for enhanced maneuverability, was seen docked in satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies on March 10. By June, however, further imagery indicated the submarine was no longer at the pier, raising questions about its fate. An unusual concentration of cranes at the shipyard during that period, spotted by Tom Shugart, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, hinted at ongoing recovery efforts. Shugart noted this level of activity was atypical for the site.

Beijing has prioritized modernizing its submarine fleet as part of broader efforts to enhance the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy). The PLA currently operates a mix of nuclear-powered ballistic missile and attack submarines, alongside a significant fleet of diesel-powered submarines. Despite this modernization, the PLA Navy’s transparency on incidents such as this remains limited. When asked about the situation, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., said they had no information to provide.

U.S. defense officials have not confirmed whether nuclear fuel was loaded onto the submarine at the time of the sinking, leaving critical details about the incident unknown. The loss has prompted questions about the oversight of China’s defense industry, which has historically been troubled by issues of corruption and accountability.

The PLA Navy, currently the world’s largest by the number of ships, is expected to expand its submarine fleet in the coming years, with projections suggesting 65 submarines by 2025 and 80 by 2035. This growth comes as the U.S. identifies China as its principal strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in naval power.