UK intel may have tracked wrecked Chinese submarine with bugged Apple watch
The submarine incident occurred on 21 August, allegedly due to a collision with a 'chain and anchor' device intended to harm Western submarines
The sub-marine accident comes at a time when China is heavily investing in its armed forces, with plans to expand its submarine fleet to 65 to 70 submarines by the end of the decade. Reuters.
Chinese dissidents claim the UK spies may have tracked the stricken Chinese submarine in the Yellow Sea, by exploiting a sailor’s Apple smartwatch. This revelation comes as part of an ongoing inquiry into the disaster involving the Chinese Type 093 nuclear submarine, which tragically claimed the lives of all 55 crew members.
The submarine incident occurred on 21 August, allegedly due to a collision with a ‘chain and anchor’ device intended to harm Western submarines. Despite China officially denying the incident, British naval intelligence officers have privately expressed their conviction that it did indeed occur. The UK’s Ministry of Defence has chosen to remain officially silent on the matter.
According to a Daily Mail report, dissidents based outside China claim to have obtained copies of the Chinese Communist Party’s investigation report, which includes allegations of Western interference. The report appears to suggest that Chinese officials are keen to attribute blame to the West for interfering with and eavesdropping on People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operations.
“We received an update from the Central Military Commission. In the classified report, the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] believes MI6 bugged the Apple watch of a high-ranking Navy officer in Guangdong command, causing the leak of information related to the 093-417 accident,” the Mail quoted a dissident as saying.
This incident marks a significant setback for China’s naval prestige, coming at a time when the country is heavily investing in its armed forces, with plans to expand its submarine fleet to 65 to 70 submarines by the end of the decade, as part of a massive £1 trillion investment package between 2024 and 2028. China’s naval expansion has raised concerns among Western observers, who fear that China aims to assert dominance in the South China Sea and beyond, including the militarization of islands in violation of previous agreements.
The sinking of PLAN 093-417 also stands as the third-largest loss of life aboard a submarine in maritime history, with the worst being the Russian Kursk disaster in 2000, which claimed 118 lives. According to a British naval intelligence officer, the crew of the Chinese submarine died due to a system fault that resulted in “hypoxia” and a catastrophic failure of the onboard oxygen system. British submarines are equipped with technology to address such situations, unlike the ill-fated Chinese submarine.
The Type 093-417 is one of China’s six nuclear attack submarines, armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles. Measuring 351 feet in length, 30 feet in width, and capable of reaching a top speed of 30 knots, this submarine represents a significant asset in China’s naval expansion plans.
As this investigation unfolds, the international community remains watchful of the implications of these allegations on the global geopolitical landscape. The controversy surrounding the incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in the South China Sea and the delicate balance of power in the region.
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