Satellite imagery captured a rare scene at a shipyard in China earlier this month, which showed a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine with its missile launch tube hatches open.

The Chinese military did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment.

Why It Matters

China has the largest navy in the world by hull count with over 370 vessels, the Pentagon said in its assessment report of Beijing's military power last December. The nation's naval fleet included 12 nuclear-powered submarines and 48 diesel-electric-powered submarines.

Last month, a satellite imagery of a different Chinese shipyard spotted a new submarine. The Pentagon said the Chinese submarine force is expected to grow to 65 boats by this year and 80 by a decade later due to an expansion of submarine building capacity.