WASHINGTON — China's newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, a senior US defence official said on Thursday (Sept 26), a potential embarrassment for Beijing as it seeks to expand its military capabilities.

China already has the largest navy in the world, with over 370 ships, and it has embarked on production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines.

A senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said China's new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank alongside a pier sometime between May and June.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said they had no information to provide.

"We are not familiar with the situation you mentioned and currently have no information to provide," the Chinese official said.

The official said it was not clear what caused it to sink or whether it had nuclear fuel on board at the time.

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