Urges The United States To Be Open About Its Nuclear Submarine Incident, China: Irresponsible And Not Transparent

United States nuclear submarine USS Connecticut (SSN-22). (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Adam K. Thomas)

JAKARTA - China urges the United States to explain to the international community in detail the collision incident experienced by one of its nuclear ships, the USS Connecticut (SSN-22).

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

"China is very concerned about this incident. The United States and other countries involved must provide information on relevant details, including the exact location of the incident, the purpose of this mission, details of the object of the collision, and whether there was any radiation leakage or other environmental damage", said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, on Friday, citing TASS, October 8.

"The US is delaying the publication of information about this incident and is trying to cover it up. Their actions are irresponsible and not transparent", Zhao criticized.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that this incident is very important amid the formation of the AUKUS partnership, which includes the supply of nuclear submarine technology from the US to Australia.

As previously reported, the United States Navy Pacific Fleet announced that the USS Connecticut (SSN-22) Nuclear Submarine, collided with an unidentified object while diving in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Several sailors aboard the USS Connecticut were injured in the crash, officials said. However, none suffered life-threatening injuries, 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 Oct. 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).

Meanwhile, according to Fox News, the incident occurred in the South China Sea. The USS Connecticut (SSN-22) did not collide with another submarine, the report said. According to the US Naval Institute (USNI), 11 crew members suffered moderate or minor injuries. A source told Military Times that "the topography of the area at the time did not indicate any land in front of the ship", adding there was no indication the incident was hostile.