Type 091 vessel patrolled the region for more than two months escorting two ships and a supply vessel
The Chinese vessel, pictured on CCTV, is thought to be an updated Type 091 nuclear submarine. Photo: CCTV
Lawrence Chung/South China Morning Post
27 April 2015
A Chinese nuclear submarine has completed an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.
The vessel, thought to be an updated version of a Type 091 nuclear submarine, patrolled the region for more than two months escorting two ships and a supply vessel, but has now returned to its base in Qingdao.
The submarine’s deployment is expected to trigger unease among China’s neighbours, especially India which is concerned about Pakistan’s deal to buy eight Chinese submarines and China’s involvement in port projects in South Asia.
Footage shown on the CCTV military channel on Sunday showed the interior of the submarine and an interview with its deputy commander, Yu Chiqiang.
“There were safety concerns involved in this mission,” Yu said. “First, there were concerns about all the equipment and facilities, and second [we had to] deal with various challenges to safety while sailing in totally unknown waters, which was complicated by military intelligence issues.”
The CCTV report was the first in the Chinese media about the submarine’s mission, though its deployment had been rumoured in the international press.
The vessel, thought to be an updated version of a Type 091 nuclear submarine, patrolled the region for more than two months escorting two ships and a supply vessel, but has now returned to its base in Qingdao.
The submarine’s deployment is expected to trigger unease among China’s neighbours, especially India which is concerned about Pakistan’s deal to buy eight Chinese submarines and China’s involvement in port projects in South Asia.
Footage shown on the CCTV military channel on Sunday showed the interior of the submarine and an interview with its deputy commander, Yu Chiqiang.
“There were safety concerns involved in this mission,” Yu said. “First, there were concerns about all the equipment and facilities, and second [we had to] deal with various challenges to safety while sailing in totally unknown waters, which was complicated by military intelligence issues.”
The CCTV report was the first in the Chinese media about the submarine’s mission, though its deployment had been rumoured in the international press.
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