Another Wuhan Disaster: China’s state-of-the-art submarine sank without trace, says US

China’s efforts to match US maritime power suffered a setback when its newest nuclear submarine sank at the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan, as revealed by US officials via satellite imagery. The Zhou-class vessel, with advanced manoeuvrability, was recovered but might take months to be seaworthy again. Uncertainty surrounds potential casualties or nuclear fuel involvement, with no evidence of radiation checks by Chinese authorities. The PLA has not acknowledged the incident, raising concerns over transparency, military competence, and internal accountability. This accident is seen as a significant hindrance to China’s plans to expand its nuclear submarine fleet and maritime capabilities.