that "the officers and sailors of 361 remembered their sacred duty entrusted to them by the Party and the people. They died on duty, sacrificed themselves for the country, and they are great losses to the People’s Navy." CMC Vice-chairman Guo Boxiong led an enquiry into the incident, which resulted in the dismissal or demotion of five senior PLA Navy officers in June 2003: Navy Commander Shi Yunsheng (replaced by Zhang Dingfa) and Political Commissar Yang Huaiqing; North Sea Fleet Commander Ding Yiping, Political Commissar Chen Xianfeng (), and Chief of Staff Xiao Xinnian. Ding Yiping had been groomed to be the candidate for Navy Commander, but was removed from contention after the accident. Admiral Wu Shengli eventually succeeded Zhang Dingfa as Commander. References External links Type 035 (Ming Class) Diesel-Electric Submarine Chinese Submarine Accident Kills 70 (Taiwanese Security Research) includes a picture of 361 China sub deaths 'must rouse Navy' (BBC News) Sackings after China's sub disaster (BBC News) China sub victims 'suffocated' (BBC News) HK press seeks answers to sub accident (BBC News) Picture of Submarine 361 2003 disasters in China Ming-class submarines Ships built in China 1995 ships Chinese submarine accidents Maritime incidents in 2003 Ships lost with all hands North Sea Fleet Yellow Sea Military history of Liaoning