China State Media Reveals New Nuclear-Armed Submarine
The report by China Central Television also claimed this was the "first disclosure" of a new Chinese submarine conducting a long-distance mission in an undisclosed maritime location.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email.
China possesses more than 370 naval vessels, making it the world's largest combat fleet by hull count, including six Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, each armed with 12 nuclear ballistic missiles, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
All Type 094 submarines are homeported at Longpo Naval Base on Hainan Island in southern China, which borders the South China Sea, and represent China's "first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent," the Pentagon assessed in its report on Chinese military power.
Ballistic missile submarines are the most survivable leg of China's nuclear triad, alongside land-based ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable bombers, because they are extremely difficult to detect while conducting patrols that maintain a constant at-sea deterrent presence.
A Chinese submarine, unidentified in the report, was seen departing a naval base at an undisclosed location, according to footage aired by China Central Television on Thursday.
Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck told Newsweek the submarine is one of six Type 094 boats in service, suggesting the footage was likely taken at Longpo Naval Base. It remains unclear whether the submarine carried out its mission in the South China Sea.
While the footage offered a rare glimpse inside the submarine and how sailors operate it, certain interior sections were blurred, likely for operational security reasons. It was not immediately clear whether the interior scenes were filmed while the submarine was at sea.
"Today is a peaceful era, but tomorrow may mark the start of war. On the day real war begins, we will wait only for the order—and then launch this missile without hesitation," said Ma Xiaohui, a sailor assigned to an unidentified submarine unit.
The Type 094 submarine can be armed with either JL-2 or JL-3 ballistic missiles, which have ranges of 4,488 miles and 6,214 miles, respectively. The JL-3 missile is capable of targeting portions of the U.S. mainland when launched from China's littoral waters.
As part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's accelerated development of nuclear forces, China's next-generation nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine, the Type 096, is expected to enter service in the late 2020s or early 2030s, according to the Pentagon's assessment report.
In comparison, the United States currently operates a fleet of 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, each armed with up to 20 Trident II D5LE nuclear missiles. According to the Federation of American Scientists, this missile has an estimated range of 7,456 miles.
The Pentagon, in its report on Chinese military power: "The [People's Republic of China]'s next-generation Type 096 [nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines] will reportedly be armed with follow-on longer range [submarine-launched ballistic missiles]."
The Federation of American Scientists, in its report on Chinese nuclear weapons: "Whenever they are in the South China Sea, China's [nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines] typically appear to be accompanied by a protection detail, including surface warships and aircraft (and possibly attack submarines) capable of tracking adversarial submarines."
It remains to be seen whether the Chinese military will disclose details of other nuclear forces in the coming days as it celebrates the 98th anniversary of its founding on Friday.
Related Articles
New Chinese Warship Debuts in Contested WatersMap Shows What Trump Tariff Rates Are For Each CountryAmerica Needs a Digital Dollar | OpinionIran Reacts to New US 'Assault'
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
5 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Hearts Melt at How Man Lets Senior Cat Know He Is Home
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A cat owner has shared how he lets his senior cat know he is home for the day with a gentle gesture. "Normally I don't like to disturb her beauty rest," Joel, 49, from Canada told Newsweek. "But her reactions were just so adorable that I couldn't help myself." In a video shared on Reddit with over 7,000 upvotes, Joel, who didn't give a surname, shared the moment he arrived home after work and headed to the window where 15-year-old Lily was sleeping. With a gentle tap on the glass, Joel woke Lily who had an adorable reaction, delighted to see her owner home. "She's usually waiting for me just inside the front entrance, sitting on a little ottoman while watching the door," Joel said. "She's almost like a little puppy." Pictures of 15-year-old Lily the cat being woken when her owner came home. Pictures of 15-year-old Lily the cat being woken when her owner came home. Suno_for_your_sprog/Reddit Lily, now a senior cat, has become something of a local legend among Joel's friends and family. Her personality, equal parts regal and goofy, has inspired a running joke: that she's Joel's "cat-wife." "I'm a single dad," he said. "So the joke is that Lily considers herself my cat-wife." While cats might not be known for their big greetings, a 2019 study by Oregon State University tested cats who were separated from their owners for two minutes at a time. They found that most cats exhibit secure attachment to their owner, similar to human infants and dogs. Study co-author Kristyn Vitale said: "We have this stereotype that cats don't depend on their owners. But it makes sense [that they would], because they are still living in a state of dependency in human homes." Joel was inspired to share the video of the moment on Reddit, thinking that others would also enjoy the adorable moment. "I've shared pictures and videos of her in the past here and there on different subreddits like r/cats," he said. "I guess it's just kind of fun to see how other people react to seeing her because she has such a unique personality that I think brings a lot of joy into the world. She does for me at least." People were delighted by the greeting and shared their reactions in the comments. "That's the kind of ritual that makes a house a home," said one commenter. While another wrote: "That's such a cute way to greet Lily!" This isn't the first time a human and cat greeting as delighted the internet. Last year the way one cat greets her owner every day gained thousands of walks online as she crossed the path in the street to say hello. While another cat's adorable reaction to her owner walking through the door also gained viral attention. Pudding, a 5-month-old kitten is always so excited to see her owner that the first thing she does is jump onto her shoulders. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
US Warship Provided 'Critical Defense' of Strategic Island Base: Navy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States warship, based in the Western Pacific, recently provided critical defense for America's strategic military outpost at Diego Garcia, a remote island in the Indian Ocean. The destroyer USS Ralph Johnson is assigned to the Seventh Fleet's Destroyer Squadron 15, a U.S. Navy surface force forward deployed in Japan. "We won't speak to the details of specific missions for operations security purposes," the Seventh Fleet told Newsweek when asked for comment. Why It Matters Diego Garcia—a tiny British Indian Ocean Territory island that hosts a U.S. military base—received far more attention than usual earlier this year following tensions between the U.S. and Iran, during which the Pentagon deployed as many as six B-2 stealth bombers there. As part of the broader U.S. reinforcement of its force posture in the Middle East, the Ralph Johnson and its sister ship, USS Milius—also assigned to the Destroyer Squadron 15—operated in the Indian Ocean and made port calls at Diego Garcia, Newsweek previously reported. The Seventh Fleet—which manages U.S. naval operations across the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans—told Newsweek that both Japan-homeported warships are designed for anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare missions, as well as ballistic missile defense. What To Know The Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, completed a seven-month deployment and returned to its home port at the Yokosuka naval base—located near Tokyo, Japan—on July 31, Destroyer Squadron 15 announced in a set of photos released the following day. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ralph Johnson returns to Yokosuka, Japan, on July 31, 2025. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ralph Johnson returns to Yokosuka, Japan, on July 31, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Taylor DiMartino/U.S. Navy The warship conducted patrols in the Seventh Fleet's area of responsibility and "critical defense of U.S. strategic locations in the Indian Ocean" during its deployment, according to a photo caption that did not specifically mention Diego Garcia. The Ralph Johnson was seen departing the island on July 13, following "a scheduled port visit." The military base "enables our forward deployed forces to conduct operations in support of regional stability and provide a rapid response to crises," the Seventh Fleet said. The Milius—which made its last stopover at Diego Garcia on July 21—was spotted anchoring off Yokosuka on Monday but appeared to set sail again without entering its home port for unknown reasons, according to photos shared by a local ship spotter. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Milius arrives in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, on July 21, 2025. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Milius arrives in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, on July 21, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Greg Johnson/U.S. Navy A third warship from Destroyer Squadron 15, USS John Finn, also made a port visit to Diego Garcia on July 16 and arrived at Sembawang naval base in Singapore on Monday. According to its official Facebook page, the warship commenced patrols as of July 31. The Seventh Fleet told Newsweek that it operates daily to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity of the U.S., its allies, and partners, ensuring maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. What People Are Saying The U.S. Seventh Fleet told Newsweek: "The Indo-Pacific region stretches from the U.S. Pacific Coastline to the Indian Ocean. As forward deployed naval forces, the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet operates forward to strengthen peace, stability and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific, and we will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows." U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia said on its website: "Diego Garcia consists of United States Navy and Air Force personnel assigned here to carry out the Island's mission: To maintain and operate facilities and provide services and materials in support of afloat units, operating forces on forward deployment, and tenant shore activities." What Happens Next Whether the Pentagon will maintain a strong military presence on Diego Garcia remains uncertain, as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have eased following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran's missile strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar in June.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Australia called out after approving 'ridiculous' airport plan
Australia will allow an airport in the nation's capital to build an asphalt road through one of the last three known places where a rare native animal is found. Although once common in the ACT, fewer than 100 Canberra grassland earless dragons survive in the wild, primarily because the flat plains it inhabits have proved popular with developers. On Wednesday, the government quietly published news that the federal environment minister had green-lit Canberra Airport Group's Northern Road project. Late on Friday, his department confirmed the decision to conservation groups that had campaigned for the road's construction to be stopped. One of the campaigners was Dr Simon Copeland, the executive director of Conservation Council ACT Region, who argues the government's timing appears to have been designed to 'hide' the controversial announcement. 'Last term, the federal government declared it wanted no new extinctions. But scientists have been raising the alarm that this species is on the verge of extinction, and we need to be doing everything in our power to protect its habitat,' he told Yahoo News Australia. 'Now we have a government that's decided to do the complete opposite of that.' Sad decline of the grassland earless dragons The Canberra grassland earless dragon was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1991. It's one of four similar dragon lizards that were thought to be one species until 2023, and all are threatened with extinction. Around Australia, less than 1 per cent of their habitat remains. All are in serious trouble in the wild, and the Monaro species is the only one listed as endangered rather than critically endangered. The Victorian species was rediscovered living on a small parcel of land that is yet to be protected by the state government. And the Bathurst species hasn't been seen since the mid-1990s, and while it may be extinct, there are searches underway along farmland and roadside verges where it's hoped isolated populations may have survived. The federal department of environment (DCCEEW) concluded that works to the north of Canberra's airport across 0.68 hectares of natural temperate grasslands are unlikely to provide quality habitat for dragons because it's actively maintained as a roadside verge. It believes plans to restore 6.67 hectares of habitat would result in a conservation gain for the species. What concerns conservationists most about the road plan isn't the loss of 0.68 habitat, it's the fragmentation of the landscape. Because the three Canberra grassland earless dragon populations are so small, there are concerns about them becoming inbred. Airport claims road will not fragment dragon habitat Copeland doesn't believe the road will mean the end of the dragons, but he's concerned it will push them further towards extinction. 'When you have a small population already and you split it in half, it makes it harder for them to breed and increase genetic diversity,' he told Yahoo News Australia. To combat these concerns, Canberra Airport Group has agreed to fund a $1 million grant to support the ACT Government's recovery program, which includes captive breeding and reintroduction activities. It will also build barrier fencing to help prevent vehicle impacts, and underpasses, which it's hoped will encourage the dragons to cross under the road. In a statement, Canberra Airport said DCCEEW's approval of its plan confirms 'there's no increased risk of extinction and no fragmentation'. It has committed to moving ahead with the project in the coming months. But Copeland disagrees that there will be no habitat fragmentation. 'It's just ridiculous, quite frankly,' he said. 'It's very clear that if you look at their own maps, there's dragon habitat on either side of the road. They have nice ideas. They have barriers and bridges under the road. But there's no evidence they'll work. No one has done any research to figure out whether the lizards will use them.' 🐕 ACT government admits to unlawfully trapping dingoes for years 🐸 Alarm raised after strange backyard phenomenon worsens in Aussie region 💰 NSW spends $11.7 million on protecting three incredible destinations Road construction will 'improve traffic management' Yahoo News contacted Environment Minister Murray Watt's office with several questions about the matter. It responded with a statement from a government spokesperson, which said DCCEEW had 'consulted extensively' with the community and 'relevant species experts' and that the decision would 'improve traffic management' and provide 'stronger environmental protections'. 'The varied approval provides stronger protections for the species through several new conditions considered necessary to avert long-term decline,' it said. Canberra Airport Group has been contacted for further comment. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
