Chinese sub secretly stalks US fleet
Pastor Dale Morgan
Chinese sub secretly stalks US fleet*
By Sally Peck and agencies
Last Updated: 8:44am GMT 13/11/2006
A Chinese submarine secretly stalked a US aircraft carrier and surfaced
within firing range of its torpedoes and missiles before being detected,
The Washington Times has reported.
USS Kitty Hawk
The US aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk held routine joint naval exercises
with Japan in waters near Okinawa from November 9
China's Song-class diesel-powered attack submarine shadowed the USS
Kitty Hawk undetected and surfaced within five miles of the aircraft
carrier on October 26, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed defence
officials.
The submarine was discovered after it surfaced by one of the American
fleet's aircraft on a routine surveillance flight, the newspaper reported.
The report emerged as Admiral Gary Roughead, commander of the American
navy's Pacific fleet, made his first visit to China.
Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of the US forces in the Pacific,
has been working with the Chinese on a military exchange programme in
recent months.
.
The two countries have been working on a heightened military partnership
in the wake of the North Korean nuclear test. China was widely praised
for its role in brokering North Korea's return to the six-party talks.
The Chinese submarine was carrying Russian-made wake-homing torpedoes
and anti-ship cruise missiles, according to the officials.
The Pentagon refused to comment on the alleged incident.