China's Submarine Rescue Ship Detected Sailing Toward Russia

Newsweek

4 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A Chinese naval vessel designed to rescue submarines in distress was spotted last week while transiting waters near Japan—a key ally of the United States in Northeast Asia—and apparently en route to Russia.
The presence of the Chinese submarine rescue ship coincided with Russian naval drills that spanned the Northern Hemisphere, including the Pacific Ocean, from July 23-27.
Newsweek has contacted both China's defense and foreign ministries for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Japan forms part of the first island chain—alongside Taiwan and the Philippines—under a U.S. containment strategy aimed at limiting China's military activities across the Western Pacific. Tokyo routinely reports Chinese aircraft and ships operating near its territory.
China, which operates the world's largest navy by hull count, with more than 370 ships and submarines, has been expanding its military presence beyond the first island chain and into the second, formed in part by the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
In June, two Chinese aircraft carriers operated simultaneously in the broader Western Pacific in a sign of Beijing's maturing operations in what it calls the "far seas."
What To Know
The Joint Staff Office of Japan's Defense Ministry said a Chinese navy Dakai-class submarine rescue vessel with the hull number 841 was observed sailing in the East China Sea on July 24, marking the first time the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force had identified the ship.
On Friday, the Chinese naval vessel passed through the Tsushima Strait and entered the Sea of Japan—known as the East Sea in the two Koreas—according to the report. The Sea of Japan borders the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese archipelago and Russia's Far East.
The vessel, also known as the Type 927 submarine support ship, is one of three ships of its class built by China, according to Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck, who writes about Chinese naval developments for the specialist outlet Naval News.
"The Chinese Navy has been significantly expanding their submarine salvage capability with two new designs," Luck told Newsweek, referring to the Dakai and Dafeng ship classes.
A Chinese Dakai-class submarine rescue vessel transits the East China Sea on July 24, 2025.
A Chinese Dakai-class submarine rescue vessel transits the East China Sea on July 24, 2025.
Joint Staff of Japan's Defense Ministry
Luck described both classes as large, modern vessels that considerably enhance the "capability and range for Chinese submarine salvage and support operations."
Given the significant expansion and ongoing modernization of China's submarine fleet, he said it was "very much plausible" that a submarine was part of the Dakai-class vessel's deployment.
In its latest report on China's military development, the Pentagon assessed that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)—the official name of China's navy—has "highly prioritized" the modernization of its submarine fleet, which is expected to grow from 60 to 80 vessels by 2035.
What People Are Saying
Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck told Newsweek: "Generally speaking, the Chinese navy would want to ensure their logistics support chain in the context of significantly expanded submarine operations particularly for the nuclear-powered fleet. Therefore this deployment is yet another sign of things to come."
The Pentagon said in its 2024 China military power report: "The PLAN operates six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN), and 48 diesel powered/air-independent powered attack submarines (SS). Despite the ongoing retirement of older hulls, the PLAN's submarine force is expected to grow to 65 units by 2025 and 80 units by 2035 due to an expansion of submarine construction capacity."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether the Japanese military will detect the Chinese submarine rescue ship on its return journey—or even track a Chinese submarine operating near its territory.