As the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commemorates its 76th founding anniversary on April 23, its cutting-edge warship, the Type 075, has been opened for public viewing for the first time.
The Type 075 amphibious assault ship will descend its gangplank (a movable bridge used to board or leave the ship) to greet the public aboard in Hainan, the city after which it is named. This is part of a series of open days in over ten coastal cities, as recently reported by the state-owned news agency Xinhua.
The celebratory events, which will take place over three days this week in cities from Qinhuangdao in the north, Shanghai in the east, and Guangzhou in the south, will allow the public to see more than 30 active-duty warships.
According to reports, several warships on display have participated in international missions, including multinational joint exercises, port visits abroad, and escort operations in the Gulf of Aden.
Earlier this week, the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Nanjing and the Type 056A guided missile corvette Lu’an also arrived at a port in Taizhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, for a planned open-house event. This is the first time active-duty warships have returned to Taizhou, the founding land of the PLA Navy.
On 23 April 1949, Mao Zedong, the leader of the PLA and the then-chairman of the Chinese People’s Revolutionary Military Committee, stated that the nation “must build its air forces and navy to boost national defense.” Later, the day was recognized as the PLAN’s birthday.
It was not until 1985 that the PLAN dispatched its first-ever flotilla on an overseas visit, and it was not until 2002 that the PLA Navy completed its first global voyage.
The PLAN made significant headway in 2008 when the first escort task force of the PLA Navy arrived in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to escort Chinese and foreign vessels. This was followed by the commissioning of its first aircraft carrier in 2012 and its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Shandong, in 2019.
The PLAN is expected to commission the third carrier, Fujian, sometime later this year.
The Navy has come a long way since its rapid growth, posing a significant challenge to the United States and its regional allies in the Indo-Pacific. The People’s Liberation Army Navy is a massive naval force, comprising a fleet of over 370 ships and submarines.
According to the CSIS’s report “Ship Wars – Confronting China’s Dual-Use Shipbuilding Empires,” China’s fleet would be 425 ships strong by 2030, while the US Navy has 300 ships. The PLA Navy is therefore a formidable force. The immense growth has unsettled the United States, which earlier boasted of the largest number of ships in its arsenal. Several US generals and officials have issued warnings about the Chinese Navy’s potential to grow in strength and technological sophistication.
Earlier, Washington warned that the yawning gap of 60 hulls between the two navies would widen every five years until 2035, when China is expected to have an estimated 475 naval ships compared to 305-317 US warships. In contrast, the US shipbuilding capability has been diminished over the years.
This makes the celebration of the PLA Navy force even more noteworthy this year.
According to a state-owned CCTV broadcast, five warships from the PLA Northern Theater Command’s fleet, including the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Chengdu and the Type 054A guided missile frigate Linyi, have landed in Qingdao, Shandong Province, East China, and will be accessible to the public till April 27.
The public would also have access to several military ports and naval aviation sites, according to Xinhua. Visitors would be exposed to naval operations and culture up close and have the opportunity to engage with Navy personnel, according to the report.
A host of vessels will be part of the open-house event, including the Type 071 amphibious transport dock, Type 052C guided-missile destroyer, Type 054A guided-missile frigate, the Type 903 replenishment ship, and the Type 22 missile boat.
However, most notably, this is the first time Hainan will be accessible to the general public on the Chinese mainland, after the open-house event held in Hong Kong last year.
Type 075—A ‘Monster’ Chinese Warship
The Type 075 is the latest and largest class of landing helicopter dock amphibious assault ship in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s fleet.
The Hainan is the first large-scale amphibious warfare vessel designed domestically in mainland China. Since its debut, three more ships of the class have been constructed.
Its flight deck, which measures 230 meters by 36 meters (754 by 118 feet), can accommodate up to six helicopters simultaneously, with a total capacity for around 30 rotary-wing aircraft, including the Z-8, Z-18, and Z-20 transport as well as attack helicopters.
Displacing 35,000 tons and measuring approximately 780 feet in length, its flight deck also includes a smaller area for drones on the starboard side. The vessel is equipped with a stern elevator for transferring two medium helicopters.
The Type 075 would provide amphibious power projection, sea control, and amphibious air support capability with a helicopter complement and command and control capabilities.
Experts say the Type 075 can undertake highly complex operations, such as amphibious landings. The vessel is expected to play a crucial role in a potential conflict with Taiwan.
The Type 075 can allow vertical landings thanks to its large helicopter capacity, which makes it a good platform for possible Taiwan operations.
These vessels could also play significant roles in disputes in the South China Sea and in conducting blue water operations beyond the first island chain.
Notably, the vessel was spotted traversing the first island chain and entering the western Pacific Ocean last year. Similarly, it was also deployed in the South China Sea, near the contested Sabina Shoal.
China has also been developing the Type 076, an amphibious assault ship equipped with cutting-edge technology, which is expected to eventually replace the Type 075.
The warship, which is expected to be the world’s largest amphibious assault ship, with a flight deck that spans roughly 260 meters by 52 meters. This ship stands out due to its distinctive catamaran hull design, which provides a larger deck area and is anticipated to serve as a dedicated drone carrier.
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