The Pentagon confirmed a report on Thursday, Sept. 26, that a Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, and in the process, it publicly acknowledged for the first time that it likely sank while docked in a river. Right now, U.S. military officials say it’s unclear what caused the submarine to sink, and they do not know if it had any nuclear fuel aboard at the time.
However, a U.S. defense official said that it likely went down alongside a pier in May or June. Satellite images from Planet Labs show cranes at the shipyard where the submarine would have originally docked.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
The Pentagon said at last check, Beijing had 12 nuclear-powered submarines and 48 diesel-powered attack submarines. However, it expects the number of subs to grow to 65 by 2025 and expand to 80 by 2035.
The submarine’s sinking is reportedly a major blow to China’s effort to outmatch U.S. naval strength. China is reportedly ramping up military spending with a focus on its navy, rocket force and air force. The People’s Liberation Army’s budget is expected to grow by more than 7% in 2024.
China reportedly made attempts to cover up the sinking, which until this week was unknown to the public. A senior U.S. military official said that “it’s no surprise” the world’s largest navy would try to hide the unwelcome development.
The disclosure that the Chinese submarine sank comes during the same week that the Pentagon commended China for its “transparency” in notifying the proper countries ahead of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile test launch on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
CHINA DIDN’T WANT TO ADMIT IT BUT THE PENTAGON CONFIRMED IT.
BEIJING’S NEWEST NUCLEAR-POWERED ATTACK SUBMARINE GOT TO THE SUBMERSIBLE PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION A LITTLE TOO QUICKLY–.
THE PENTAGON FOR THE FIRST TIME REVEALING IT SANK EARLIER THIS YEAR–WHILE DOCKED IN A RIVER.
THE PENTAGON SAYS, “IT’S NO SURPRISE” THE WORLD’S LARGEST NAVY WOULD TRY TO HIDE THE EMBARRASSING NEWS.
RIGHT NOW, IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT SANK THE SUB– BUT WE KNOW IT WENT DOWN ALONGSIDE A PIER IN MAY OR JUNE.
SATELLITE IMAGES FROM PLANET LABS SHOW CRANES AT THE SHIPYARD WHERE THE SUBMARINE WOULD HAVE DOCKED.
THE PENTAGON SAID AT LAST CHECK BEIJING HAD 12 NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBS AND 48 DIESEL-POWERED ATTACK SUBMARINES.
BUT IT EXPECTS THE NUMBER OF SUBS TO GROW TO 65 BY NEXT YEAR AND 80 BY 2035.
THE SUB’S SINKING IS A MAJOR BLOW TO CHINA’S EFFORT TO OUTMATCH U-S NAVAL STRENGTH.
CHINA IS REPORTEDLY CRANKING UP MILITARY SPENDING WITH A FOCUS ON ITS NAVY, ROCKET FORCE AND AIR FORCE
THE P-L-A DEFENSE BUDGET IS EXPECTED GROW BY MORE THAN SEVEN PERCENT JUST THIS YEAR.
CHINA REPORTEDLY MADE ATTEMPTS TO COVER UP THE SINKING, WHICH UNTIL THIS WEEK WAS UNKNOWN IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE.
IT ALSO COMES THE SAME WEEK THE PENTAGON COMMENDED CHINA FOR ITS “TRANSPARENCY” IN NOTIFYING THE PROPER COUNTRIES AHEAD OF AN I-C-B-M TEST LAUNCH.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY AND WEAPONS AND WARFARE– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M RYAN ROBERTSON.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Oakland Athletics
Athletics play final game in Oakland before move to Vegas
-
Pasco County Sheriff's Office via X
At least 3 dead as Helene barrels through southeastern US
-
Getty Images
NY appeals panel signals skepticism over state’s $464M Trump judgment
-
AP Images
Pennsylvania bakery swamped with orders for famous election poll cookies