Early in the Spring of 2024, the hulking shape of China’s newest nuclear-powered submarine, complete with her unique X-shaped stern, was visible in satellite photos, docked at a shipyard near Wuhan. All over the internet, Naval experts speculated about the mysterious underwater vehicle’s design, capabilities, and, most importantly, power source.But just as fast as she came onto the scene, the submarine vanished.By June, satellite imagery from the same exact spot revealed all that remained were cranes. There was no sign of the submarine, no reports, and, especially, no explanations from Beijing.The apparent pinnacle of China’s nuclear submarine ambitions was now hiding beneath the surface. And no one knows why.