Chinese nuclear attack submarine that raised flag in international waters may have been testing Japan’s patrol capabilities
China’s Shang-class is a new type of attack submarine equipped with ship-to-ship missiles that have a maximum firing range of 40 kilometres as well as torpedoes
A Chinese naval submarine detected in waters near Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea last week was a nuclear-powered attack submarine, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said Monday.
The 110-metre-long Shang-class submarine was detected on Thursday while submerged just outside Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands, also known as the Diaoyu Islands.
Tokyo filed a protest with Beijing, which also claims the islands, saying the submarine’s presence raised bilateral tensions.
According to the Japanese Defence Ministry, the Shang-class is a new type of attack submarine equipped with ship-to-ship missiles that have a maximum firing range of 40 kilometres as well as torpedoes.
“We are seriously concerned over acts that unilaterally raise tensions. We’ll keep our guard up to respond swiftly if a similar incident happens,” Onodera told reporters, noting that the Shang-class submarine was capable of loading long-range cruise missiles.
“Operating a submerged submarine close to another country’s territory goes against the norms of international rules.”
On Friday, Onodera said the submarine surfaced in international waters flying a Chinese flag on its mast.