USS Connecticut (SSN-22) Nuclear Submarine Collided With Underwater Object In South China Sea, US Holds Investigation

JAKARTA - The United States (US) will conduct an investigation regarding the incident experienced by one of their nuclear submarines, the USS Connecticut Nuclear Submarine (SSN-22) last week, although there were no serious casualties.

The USS Connecticut (SSN-22) nuclear submarine, which belongs to the Seawolf Class, struck an underwater object in the South China Sea on Saturday, October 2, according to two defense officials.

Several sailors aboard the USS Connecticut were injured in the crash, officials said. None of the injuries were life-threatening, according to a statement from the US Pacific Fleet. It is unclear what this submarine might have hit.

"The submarine remains in a safe and stable condition. The USS Connecticut nuclear and space power plant is unaffected and remains fully operational," the statement said, citing CNN October 7.

"The incident will be investigated," the statement continued.

However, the US Navy did not specify whether the incident occurred in the South China Sea, or occurred in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region.

The accident occurred as tensions between the US and China escalated over a Chinese military attack on the Taiwan Air Defense Integration Zone (ADIZ).

The USS Connecticut Nuclear Submarine (SSN-22) is operating in the waters surrounding the South China Sea, as the US and its allies have been making a major multinational show of force in the region, known as Carrier Strike Group 21.

The ongoing exercise sees ships from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, including three aircraft carriers, training in and around the region.

To note, last Saturday 39 Chinese military aircraft, including fighter jets and transport aircraft, entered Taiwan's ADIZ, causing Taiwan's air force to deploy jets and deploy air defense missiles to monitor the aircraft. Two days later, China sent 56 planes to Taiwan's ADIZ within 24 hours, the highest number since the self-ruled island began releasing the number publicly last year.

"We are deeply concerned by China's provocative military activity near Taiwan," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at a press conference in Paris on Wednesday when asked about China's activities.

"As we said, these activities destabilize. This risks miscalculation and has the potential to undermine regional peace and stability. So, we strongly urge Beijing to stop military, diplomatic and economic pressure and coercion directed at Taiwan," he said.