Queen Elizabeth [AP 연합]
A Chinese nuclear submarine was discovered while tracking the British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth while sailing in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the British Daily Express on the 8th (local time), a Chinese nuclear attack submarine attempted to follow the British naval aircraft carrier ‘HMS Queen Elizabeth’ while sailing in the Pacific Ocean.
While leaving the South China Sea for the Pacific Ocean, the British carrier group spotted two Shang class submarines (type 093A underwater, displacement of 7,000 tons) in the control room of the anti-submarine frigate Kent Waritymond. They appear to be submarines and intelligence-gathering reconnaissance ships, and they appear to have been following until discovered by anti-submarine sonar.
It is reported that the British Navy, which had been anticipating spying activities such as Chinese submarines, found a Chinese submarine chasing the carrier group through a sonar (sonar) within six hours after exiting the South China Sea. The South China Sea is where China claims sovereignty over sea routes after creating artificial islands.
“China’s submarine force is growing at a rapid pace, and this cannot be underestimated,” a British Navy official said. However, China does not have the combat experience that the United States and Britain experienced during the Cold War.”
“China is using technology to find our location. But they are deploying submarines to achieve superpower status and to reinforce their intention to dominate trade and security across the Pacific. This is a violation of international law.”
China currently operates 66 submarines. This is more than the US Navy or the British Navy. China is using its submarines to wield military power over countries across the Pacific.
This is not the first time China has followed suit. U.S. Naval sources reported that Chinese ships had attempted to follow U.S. ships and were increasing their activity across the Pacific Ocean. In 2015, the Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier was followed by a Chinese submarine, and in 2009, a Chinese ‘Song’ class submarine was not detected by the Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier within 5 miles.
Meanwhile, the Queen Elizabeth is currently in Guam and is due to visit Korea at the end of this month or early next month.
By Bae Jae-seong, staff reporter hongdoya@joongang.co.kr
