China’s newest nuclear submarine sank in dock, US officials confirm

Loss of state-of-the-art vessel in May or June is setback to Chinese push for naval parity with US

China's efforts to achieve maritime military parity with the US have suffered a serious blow after its newest state-of-the-art nuclear submarine sank in a dock, American officials have confirmed.

The incident happened last May or June at the Wuchang shipyard near Wuhan - the same city where the Covid-19 pandemic is believed to have originated - and came to light, thanks to satellite imagery, despite efforts by the country's communist authorities to stage a cover-up.