The United States (US) has denied China’s repeated accusations that Washington has been covering up details of a submarine collision that recently happened in the South China Sea (SCS).
Earlier this month, the USS Connecticut, a nuclear-powered US submarine, hit an unknown “object” while submerged in international waters in the Indo-Pacific.
The US Navy’s Pacific Fleet put out a brief statement regarding the incident without clarifying the object the vessel collided with, the exact location of the incident, or the number of injured sailors. However, it mentioned that some of the crew was injured, but none suffered life-threatening injuries. The statement added: “The submarine remains in a safe and stable condition…USS Connecticut’s nuclear propulsion plant and spaces were not affected and remain fully operational.”
Satellite images have shown that the nuclear submarine is back to the US naval facility in Guam, where the damage is being assessed and the vessel will be repaired.
When asked to comment on the US being “tight-lipped” about details of the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian during his regular press briefing on Tuesday, said Beijing “repeatedly expressed grave concerns over the matter and asked the US side to make clarifications.”
Referring to the lack of details, Zhao said, “As of now, we have seen nothing but a brief and vague statement issued by the US military with procrastination, and a confirmation by a so-called informant that the incident did happen in the South China Sea.” He added that the US’ lack of information was “irresponsible” and “cagey” and gave regional countries and the international community “every reason to question the truth of the incident and the intention of the US.”
Expanding on the Chinese government’s lack of trust, Zhao asserted: “It’s justified for China and other littoral states of the South China Sea to ask the US to answer the following questions: What was USS Connecticut up to do secretively in the South China Sea this time? What did it collide with? Why did that collision happen? Was there a nuclear leak that creates nuclear contamination in the marine environment?”
“As the party directly involved, the onus is on the US to give a detailed explanation in response to the concerns and doubts of regional countries and the international community,” he declared.
Zhao concluded that the SCS is “not a hunting ground for the US to pursue geopolitical interests” and accused Washington of frequently provocating Beijing by militarizing the volatile waters and “stirring up trouble.” “The US should change its course and stop such erroneous acts, and play a positive role in upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he said.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby retorted that “it’s an odd way of covering something up when you put a press release out about it.” However, he declined to give more information on the incident, calling it a matter of the US Navy.
US Denies China’s Repeated Accusations of Covering Up Submarine Crash in South China Sea
China has said that the US’ lack of information on the incident was “irresponsible” and “cagey.”
October 27, 2021
SOURCE: US NAVY