Official statements from Chinese government or military

China's Type 041 Zhou Nuclear Submarine Sinks Near Wuhan, U.S. Officials Confirm

Sep 26, 2024, 04:48 PM

China's newest nuclear-powered attack submarine, the first-of-its-kind Type 041 Zhou, sank in late May or early June at a shipyard near Wuhan. The incident, which has not been previously disclosed, represents a significant setback for China's military modernization efforts. U.S. officials confirmed the sinking, noting that Chinese authorities scrambled to cover up the episode. The submarine sank pierside into the Yangtze River. It remains unclear whether the submarine was carrying nuclear fuel at the time of the incident.