China urges US to provide details on submarine collision in South China Sea

US submarine collided with an unidentified object in South China Sea on October 2. According to Chinese state media, Global Times, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian has asked US to reveal facts about submarine, including its aim and wher it caused a nuclear leak or harmed marine ecosystem.  disaster occurred as tensions between United States and China grew over Chinese military's incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Integration Zone (ADIZ).

According to US Navy, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, USS Connecticut, collided with an unkwn underwater object while travelling through international seas in Pacific Ocean last Saturday. Navy's Pacific Fleet stated, " Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) struck an object while submerged on afteron of October 2, while operating in international waters in Indo-Pacific region."

Connecticut was operating in waters of South China Sea

According to CNN, Connecticut was operating in waters of South China Sea as part of Carrier Strike Group 21, a massive multinational show of force in region conducted by United States and its allies. Ships from United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Canada and Nerlands, as well as three aircraft carriers, are w training near area.

majority of South and East China Seas are considered international seas by United States, while China claims dominance over much of region. In recent years, United States and its allies have expanded sail-bys in both seas, eliciting criticism from China. United States and China often accuse each or of conducting unsafe or unprofessional military drills in region.

collision in 2005

most severe recent collision involving a US Navy submarine was in 2005 when USS San Francisco collided with an underwater mountain at full speed. According to CBS News, one sailor was killed, and most of crew was injured in disaster. captain and many or senior officers were removed from ir duties after it was discovered that y were utilising old seafloor charts despite having up-to-date maps on hand. That incident occurred close to US island of Guam, thousands of miles east of tense waters off China's coast.

(Inputs from ANI)

Im: Twitter/@USPacificFleet, AP