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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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The Chinese military received a boost in its island-landing capabilities as a new warship capable of projecting power from sea to shore was officially unveiled during a training exercise in the South China Sea, coinciding with the 98th anniversary of its founding.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment via email.
Why It Matters
China operates the world's largest navy by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines, including amphibious vessels designed to carry helicopters and ground units for landing campaigns—assets well-suited for deployment in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
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In the South China Sea, China's sweeping claims of sovereignty overlap with those of other regional countries, including the Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States. Meanwhile, Beijing has threatened to take Taiwan—a self-governed, democratic island—by force.
The debut of the new Chinese amphibious warship follows the U.S. Navy's deployment of a similar vessel, the USS Tripoli, from the West Coast to Japan in June, ensuring that some of the Pentagon's most capable ships are positioned to respond to any contingency near China.
What To Know
On August 1, the anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese military announced that its fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, CNS Hubei, recently made its debut during a training exercise in the South China Sea.
The Hubei, named after the province in central China and bearing hull number 34, joins its three sister ships in service with the fast-growing East Asian power's naval force: CNS Hainan, CNS Guangxi, and CNS Anhui with hull numbers 31, 32, and 33, respectively.
According to China Central Television, the Hubei and the Hainan formed a naval task group alongside four other vessels for training exercises in the South China Sea in recent days.
The domestically built 40,000-ton Type 075 amphibious warship is capable of supporting simultaneous helicopter takeoffs and landings, while carrying air-cushioned landing craft, tanks, and armored vehicles in its loading compartment, according to the report.
Serving as a large amphibious combat platform, the Type 075 vessel possesses "strong combat capabilities" and "excellent air and sea control capabilities," the report said.
In addition to the four Type 075 amphibious assault ships, China launched its first advanced Type 076 amphibious assault ship, CNS Sichuan, last December. The ship is equipped with a catapult system, similar to that of an aircraft carrier, for launching fixed-wing aircraft.
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What People Are Saying
The U.S. Defense Department, in a report on Chinese military power: "The [PLA Navy]'s expanding fleet of large modern amphibious warships enable it to conduct a wide range of expeditionary operations wherever [People's Republic of China] interests are threatened or in support of [People's Republic of China] participation in internationally sanctioned operations."
Chinese military affairs expert Song Zhongping told China's Global Times on Friday: "Having four Type 075 amphibious assault ships shows the increasing amphibious combat capabilities of the PLA Navy, which is determined by the demands on defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as safeguarding national security."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether China will construct additional Type 075 amphibious assault ships or shift its focus to building the more advanced Type 076 amphibious assault ship.
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